Bristol Rovers have signed 23-year-old centre-back Kacper Łopata on a season-long loan from Barnsley

Daniel Hargraves Bristol Rovers reporter

07:49, 15 Aug 2025Updated 07:56, 15 Aug 2025

New Bristol Rovers loanee Kacper Lopata pictured in action for Barnsley(Image: Pete Norton/Getty Images)

Darrell Clarke has called new Bristol Rovers defender Kacper Łopata “aggressive and dominant” after the two reunited following a spell working together at Barnsley.

The six-foot-four centre-back has joined Rovers on a season-long loan from the Tykes, becoming the club’s 10th signing of the summer.

Although born in Kraków, the 23-year-old, who turns 24 later this month, lived in Bristol as a youngster and attended SGS College in Filton.

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He adds extra depth and quality to the defensive ranks, which took a significant blow last week when Connor Taylor’s departure for Wycombe Wanderers was confirmed.

“We are pleased to welcome Kacper to Bristol Rovers,” Clarke said to club media. “We have been looking to bring in reinforcements to our defensive options and he brings a strong profile to our group.

“I worked with Kacper at Barnsley and I know about his strengths, ability and what he can bring to the team. He is an aggressive and dominant centre-back that we are looking forward to working with in the coming months.”

Director of football Ricky Martin added: “Kacper is an imposing and powerful centre-back who is passionate about the role of a defender in the team.

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“While only 23 years old, Kacper already has a good number of appearances in the EFL and SPL, and an understanding of the demands of football at this level. We are looking forward to working with him and furthering his development both on and off the pitch while he is with us.”

Łopata featured in two cup matches for Barnsley under Clarke last season before heading out to Scotland to play for Ross County on loan in the Premiership. During that spell, the defender made 31 appearances across all competitions.

The campaign prior, the 23-year-old played 19 times in League One for both Barnsley and Port Vale on loan. He featured in both of the Reds’ league matches against Rovers, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw at the Mem in August 2023.

Łopata had joined the South Yorkshire outfit in the summer of 2023 from National League side Woking, having also played for Southend United on a permanent basis.

Earlier in the defender’s career, he had spells in the youth systems of Bristol City, Brighton and Hove Albion and Sheffield United before going on to make two senior appearances for the Blades as well as having a loan spell back in Poland with Zaglebie Sosnowiec.

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The centre-back arrives as one of four additional signings Clarke stated he would like last week before the window closes, detailing that they would ideally come in the form of two central defenders and two midfielders.

Following Taylor’s departure, Rovers only had four recognised centre-backs in the form of Alfie Kilgour, Taylor Moore, Clinton Mola and 20-year-old Dan Ellison who is yet to make his competitive debut for the Gas having joined from Chippenham Town last summer.

Łopata is understood to be eligible to be involved in Saturday’s League Two trip to Chesterfield.

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