Bristol Rovers have completed the signing of Swansea midfielder Joel Cotterill on a season long loan deal. He marks only the Gas’ third August signing after striker Fabrizio Cavegn on the 1st and loan defender Kacper Lopata in the middle of the month.
Midfield has been a position Rovers have been eyeing up throughout the last month, to add depth on top of Ryan Howley and the experienced Josh McEachran – both brought in this window.
The loss of Kofi Shaw has been big for Rovers with his all-round skillset being a shining light at the end of last season. Still, the double pivot of Kamil Conteh – who seems to be remaining in BS7 this summer – and McEachran has performed superbly, as has Howley.
Cotterill now becomes the Gas’ 11th piece of summer business, and only their second loan. Darrell Clarke’s biggest challenge has been to rebuild the dressing room culture and he seems to have preferred familiar faces for the most part.
Loans have been scarce with Lopata actually someone he’s worked with previously at Barnsley, along with his key staff, having also been raised in the North Bristol area.
20-year-old Cotterill has 13 caps for Wales U21 and played 48 times for Swindon last campaign, notching five goals and two assists. He accrued 2,634 league minutes in 30 starts and another 11 substitute appearances.
Prior to that, he spent the first half of 23/24 with Stockport, managing a goal and an assist in 12 games. His only senior appearance for Swansea came in the EFL Cup in 2022.
Cotterill offers Rovers a more attacking midfield option to the trio mentioned above, a more natural 8, standing at about 6′.
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On the signing, Clarke said: “Joel is a versatile, ball-playing midfielder who has already shown a real technical ability and has experience of playing in this division over the last couple of seasons. We are looking forward to working with him throughout the coming season.”
Ricky Martin added: “Joel is a young, technical U21s international who already has got great experience of playing in League Two. He is athletic, can play box-to-box and brings a real energy that will complement our squad.
“We have tracked Joel throughout the transfer window and we are pleased he has chosen to continue his development with us at Bristol Rovers.”
Cotterill won’t be available to play Welsh side Newport County this weekend due to his international call-up.
