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He was there for a season and a half before moving to Bristol City in a £1.2 million deal in the summer of 1998. By then he'd netted no fewer than 28 goals in 63 league appearances.
Always popular with the Gillingham fans he played there early in his Burnley career and received a warm ovation from the home crowd, similar to those he's since received at Wolves and Bristol City.
Today Gills boss Mark Stimson admitted he'd love to sign him but realises it might be difficult financially. "I would welcome someone like him with open arms because he's a fantastic footballer," Stimson said.
"You don't know. When the window opens for a loan deal for four weeks we would love to take him. Financially it would be way, way out of our bracket but if the chairman could pull something like that off for a month or two, then it would definitely be worth it.
"We haven't used a lot of the money from the Aston Villa game so we are just waiting around for a crazy deal like that to happen."
Ade scored nine goals last season for the Clarets, and had a better goals per time on the pitch than any other player at the club. This season however he's hardly featured and has started just the one game at Barnsley in November.
his only goal during 2008/09 was a memorable one though, the equaliser at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea. Although he's twice been used in the Carling Cup this year his last league appearance was as far back as mid-December as a substitute in the 3-2 home win against Southampton.