Whitehawk have bolstered their squad with three signings ahead of today’s National League south opener away to Hayes and Yeading.

Among the arrivals is an Argentinean defender who was playing in the Colombian premier division last season.

The others are French midfielder Stephane Ngamvoulou and former Eastbourne Borough full-back Chris Sessegnon.

Juan Cruz Gotta has arrived from South America to solve Hawks’ central defensive problems following the summer departures of Osei Sankofa, Tom Cadmore and Marvin Hamilton.

Gotta, 25, is a 6ft 5in defender who previously played four games for Havant and Waterlooville but was last season playing for top-flight Colombian side Boyaca Chico.

Hawks were forced to play a central midfielder in defence for their 2-1 defeat of Crawley Town last Saturday, such was their shortage of numbers.

Manager Steven King wanted to keep Sankofa but felt it was not right when the former Charlton defender took a coaching role at National League south rivals Ebbsfleet United.

Cadmore has joined Wealdstone after relocating to the area while former Eastbourne Borough defender Hamilton has also left this summer.

King said: “I have been chasing Juan for a while. He is a big, dominant centre-back.

“We are just waiting for international clearance. If that does not come through in time for the Hayes game then hopefully he will make his debut on Tuesday or next Saturday.

“He is a big signing for us.”

Ngamvoulou is a 6ft 3in box-to-box midfielder with good pace and energy.

The Frenchman played for Staines Town last season and impressed for Whitehawk as a trialist against Crawley.

Sessegnon, who can also play as a wing-back, was previously with Ebbsfleet United and played 11 times for Eastbourne Borough last season.

He was on trial at Crawley Town at the start of pre-season and featured for Hawks against the Reds last Saturday.

King was hoping to make one more signing before the season started to bolster what is a small squad.

He said; “There was one more I was trying to get but that hasn’t come off.

“I’m still hoping to add one or two more signings to the squad and then we will be done.

“Getting these three players in has really helped us in both quality and numbers.”