Bristol Rovers have re-signed former striker Ellis Harrison on a one-year deal

Daniel Hargraves Bristol Rovers reporter

17:00, 29 Jul 2025

Ellis Harrison has returned to Bristol Rovers on a one-year deal(Image: Bristol Rovers FC)

Ellis Harrison has insisted that he will “give 100 per cent” for Darrell Clarke after the former Bristol Rovers youth product sealed a return to the Mem, seven years on from his departure for Ipswich Town in 2018.

The now-31-year-old, who has signed a one-year deal in BS7, came through the youth ranks at Rovers and played a vital role in helping guide the Gas out of the Conference, scoring the equalising goal at Wembley in the play-off final against Grimsby Town.

Harrison went on to score a total of 49 goals in 204 appearances for the Pirates before joining Ipswich in the Championship for a fee reported to be in the region of £750,000.

READ MORE: ‘Incredibly energetic’ and versatile – Who is Bristol Rovers’ trialist Jordon Garrick?READ MORE: Progress out wide, smiles return and work to do: What we learned from Bristol Rovers’ pre-season

He has since played for the likes of Portsmouth, Fleetwood Town, Port Vale, where he also played under Clarke, MK Dons and Walsall and is now back at Rovers ahead of the 2025/26 season.

“It’s really good to come back to Bristol Rovers,” Harrison told club media. “Even when I used to come back here to play against Rovers, it was always nice to come back to the Mem. And it’s even better that I get to play for the gaffer again.

“We trust each other. He’s done a lot for my career. I give 100 per cent for him and I always have and always will. When he gave me the call about coming back to Rovers, it was an easy decision for me to come back and play for this club again.”

Having previously worked with Ellison at both Rovers and Port Vale, Clarke declared: “It is great to welcome Ellis back to Bristol Rovers. Ellis is a top professional, a brilliant athlete, and returns to the club with significant experience and a real know-how of how to win games and progress through the leagues.

“Ellis was excellent to work with in my first spell at Bristol Rovers, and during our time together at Port Vale, and the coaches and I are looking forward to working with him again this season.”

Director of football Ricky Martin added: “Ellis has a strong connection with the club, having come through our academy. From the early conversations we had, it was clear he was determined to return to Bristol Rovers, help the team and be a part of this project.

“His profile is a clear match for the type of player we were looking for to strengthen our attacking options and his goals and assists will be immensely valuable for the team this season.”

Harrison, who arrives as the Gas’ eighth signing of the summer, has been a free agent since being released by MK Dons earlier this summer but spent the second half of last term on loan at Walsall, scoring three goals in League Two on top of another two scored for Milton Keynes in the first half of the season.

Reinforcement at the top end of the pitch has been a priority for the Gas in the market after they managed just 44 goals in League One last campaign en route to relegation; only three teams scored fewer.

Bristol Rovers Live on Whatsapp

Join Bristol Rovers Live’s Whatsapp community for all the biggest Bristol Rovers stories sent straight to your phone

Bristol Rovers Live is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community.

Through the app, we’ll send the Bristol Rovers news, live match coverage, team news, transfers, fixtures, analysis and more straight to your phone.

To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select ‘Join Community’.

No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Bristol Live team.

We also treat community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out at any time you like.

To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘Exit group’.

If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Click here to join our WhatsApp community.

The minutes of Promise Omochere and Ruel Sotiriou have been managed accordingly through pre-season after respective injury issues while 17-year-old academy graduate Ollie Dewsbury is the club’s only other recognised option up front. The teenager signed his first professional contract earlier this month.

Harrison has been training with the PFA through the summer, who run a programme for out of contract professional footballers to have a pre-season as well as playing friendly matches.

He is also the third player to join the Pirates who has previously worked with Clarke alongside Luke Southwood and Alfie Kilgour, who has also returned to Rovers after coming through the club’s youth system.

Rovers are understood to be targeting another attacking addition before the summer window closes on September 1, but both Clarke and Martin have emphasised their desire to work with a smaller squad than last season.

The Gas kick off their 2025/26 League Two season at home to Harrogate Town on Saturday afternoon which should see Ellison make his second debut for his boyhood club.

READ MORE: Ricky Martin interview part two: Bristol Rovers’ trading reality, academy aims and new seasonREAD MORE: Every word Darrell Clarke said on Bristol Rovers’ friendly at Oxford United, absentees and more