Bristol City have sent a huge signal of intent after completing a deal to sign Rob Atkinson.

The Robins announced the deal on Saturday evening with the 22-year-old joining the club on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee from League One side Oxford United.

Nigel Pearson is clearly building a team for the future and will be delighted to get the centre-back on board for the new campaign.

Atkinson told of his excitement at making the step up to the Championship, telling Bristol City's official website: "I’m excited and looking forward to playing in the Championship. It’s another step up and I’ve done plenty of those in my career. I’ll be attacking it the same as I always have - that’s head on, working hard and hopefully it will go just as well as my previous step-ups.”

He’s also looking to learn more from his new teammates, with his eyes set on a busy settling-in period.

“I’ve tried to learn from my peers and players in my position so it’s good to hear there’s experience in players in my position, the gaffer being a centre-back himself when he played, so I can learn from him too,” he said.

 

 

“It’s not just the centre-backs, but the strikers too. There’s quality up front here and I’m sure in the first few training sessions they’ll teach me a thing or two and I can learn from them, so there’s plenty to learn in these first few weeks.”

As you'd expect, plenty of Bristol City fans were delighted by the addition and took to social media to share their pleasure at the deal.

Here's what some had to say.