The summer transfer window officially closed on Monday evening

Daniel Hargraves Bristol Rovers reporter

14:00, 04 Sep 2025

Luke Thomas is one of six permanently contracted Bristol Rovers players whose contract expires next summer(Image: Geraint Nicholas/PPAUK)

The summer transfer window is finally over, meaning that if Bristol Rovers are to add any more players to their squad, it will be free agents who didn’t manage to get a move when the market was open.

As has been the case over the past handful of summers, it was another busy window for the Gas with 14 new players eventually joining the club while another 21 first team players have left either permanently or on loan since the end of last term.

Deadline day was busy as expected with four loanees arriving. Midfielders Joel Cotterill (Swansea City) and Alfie Chang (Birmingham City), centre-back Stephan Negru (Oxford United) and winger Freddie Issaka (Plymouth Argyle) joined the club while Isaac Hutchinson departed for Cheltenham Town on loan for the remainder of the season.

READ MORE: Plymouth Argyle boss Tom Cleverley sets Freddie Issaka challenge for Bristol Rovers loan spellREAD MORE: First Bristol Rovers dedicated virtual museum launches showcasing memorabilia from Gas’ history

Those loans, as well as defender Kacper Lopata’s, are set to expire next summer, although Chang’s deal has an intriguing option to buy included.

Meanwhile, there are six permanently contracted players whose current deals are set to expire next summer. Luke Thomas, who signed a three-year deal in 2023, and Ellis Harrison, who penned a one-year contract this summer, are the only ones of those six whose terms do not boast an option for an extra year.

Joel Senior, Micah Anthony, Bryant Bilongo and Dan Ellison all penned two-year contracts last summer but, as was the case for every permanent signing that window, had the option of an extra year inserted into their deals.

Half of Rovers’ summer arrivals signed two-year deals in BS7, including the likes of Alfie Kilgour, Luke Southwood, Jack Sparkes, Josh McEachran and Macauley Southam-Hales. Additionally, Kamil Conteh, who the Gas did well to keep hold of this summer, will also see his current contract expire in summer 2027 after signing a three-and-a-half year deal when joining from Grimsby Town in January 2024.

The only players with deals that expire in 2028, or at least that are known with the length of Ollie Dewsbury’s first professional deal not publicised, are Jed Ward and Fabrizio Cavegn.

Ward is currently on loan at Yeovil Town while Cavegn joined this summer from FC Vaduz. The Swiss striker’s contract also includes an option for a further year.

Here is a full run down of the current contract situation of every senior player at Rovers…

Sign up for our Rovers newsletter

Bristol Rovers are preparing for a new season in League Two with Darrell Clarke back at the helm and you won’t miss a beat with our free newsletter.

All the latest news, views, interviews, gossip and analysis concerning the Gas, delivered straight to your inbox.

It’s completely free and you can sign up HERE

2026

  • Kacper Lopata (loan)
  • Joel Cotterill (loan)
  • Stephan Negru (loan)
  • Freddie Issaka (loan)
  • Alfie Chang (loan with option to buy)
  • Luke Thomas
  • Ellis Harrison
  • Joel Senior (option for extra year)
  • Micah Anthony (option for extra year)
  • Bryant Bilongo (option for extra year)
  • Dan Ellison (option for extra year)

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.

2027

  • Alfie Kilgour
  • Josh McEachran
  • Luke Southwood
  • Jack Sparkes
  • Macauley Southam-Hales
  • Brad Young
  • Ryan Howley
  • Kamil Conteh
  • Taylor Moore (option for extra year)
  • Clinton Mola (option for extra year)
  • Promise Omochere (option for extra year)
  • Ruel Sotiriou (option for extra year)
  • Shaq Forde (option for extra year)
  • Isaac Hutchinson (option for extra year) – on loan at Cheltenham Town

2028

  • Jed Ward – on loan at Yeovil Town
  • Fabrizio Cavegn (option for extra year)

*Length of Ollie Dewsbury’s professional deal signed this summer unknown

READ MORE: Bristol Rovers finalise summer jigsaw after busy final day, but will it be enough for promotion?READ MORE: One in and one out for Bristol Rovers’ midfield following late incoming and outgoing