Bristol Rovers have completed the permanent signing of defender James Connolly from Cardiff City, it has been confirmed.

Having joined Cardiff's youth setup back in the summer of 2020, Connolly spent the second half of last season on loan with Bristol Rovers.

The 20-year-old went on to make 25 appearances in all competitions for the Gas, helping them win promotion from League Two to League One.

Now, Connolly is back with Bristol Rovers, and this time the move will see him stay at the Memorial Stadium in the long term.

It has been announced that the defender has completed a permanent move to Bristol Rovers, joining the club for an undisclosed fee.

Connolly has put pen to paper on a three-year deal with the club, securing his future with Bristol Rovers until the end of the 2024/25 season.

The defender becomes Bristol Rovers' third signing of the summer transfer window, following midfielder Jordan Rossiter and full-back James Gibbons, who have joined from Fleetwood and Port Vale respectively.

The Verdict

This does look as though it should prove to be a rather good signing for Bristol Rovers.

Connolly obviously already knows the club well from his time there earlier this year, where he played an important role in helping the club to promotion.

As a result, he is already a figure the Gas know they can rely on, while his familiarity with the club means he ought to be able to settle back in quickly at The Memorial Stadium.

Indeed, the fact they have been able to agree a long term deal for the player before he has even made an appearance for Cardiff, meaning they have yet to get an idea of what he could be capable of, does feel like a show of strength and intent from last season's League Two promotion winners.