Bristol Rovers is delighted to confirm the permanent signing of Kofi Balmer from Scottish Premiership side Motherwell.
The defender spent the second half of the 2025/26 season on loan at the Pirates and made 22 appearances in Sky Bet League Two.
The 25-year-old made an instantaneous impression in the blue-and-white quarters, scoring superb volleys in Rovers' wins over Walsall and Grimsby Town.
Balmer has signed a two-year contract at The Memorial Stadium, keeping him at the Club until the summer of 2028.
“It feels amazing to sign permanently,” Balmer said. “After an enjoyable and good finish to the season, and a really good loan for me, I felt like I was in a really good place at Rovers. There were good people around me and it felt like the right decision to stay with the Gas. When you have something good, you want it to keep going for as long as possible, and I think it will be one I look back at and thank myself for doing.
“We had a great run at the end of last season and I expect we’ll have the same mentality in the new season too, with the players and manager we’ve got. We were top of the in-form table and we want to go into the new year with the same mentality and trying to do that for the whole of the new season. There is no reason why we can’t pick right back up where we left off.
“Since the very first conversation I had with the gaffer, before I came down on loan, I knew I would enjoy it at Rovers. I’ve enjoyed the graft, working hard, and I feel he’s got the best out of me so far. Him wanting me here was a really big thing for me too. I’ve enjoyed working with him and the group and I want to keep enjoying that next season.
“I’ve loved every second of being here. It means so much when the fans are behind you and they’re supporting you through thick and thin. Now it’s up to me to repay that to them. I’ll always give 100 per cent for the team. And I’ve absolutely loved living here too. I’m excited to get back down and getting back around Bristol and getting back to work. Hopefully I can score a few more goals like the two I did last season as well. I’ve been practicing them on my holidays so hopefully there are more of those to come.”
Manager Steve Evans said: “Kofi was nothing short of exceptional during his loan with us and I'm delighted he's joined Rovers on a permanent deal. Kofi has reminded everyone of his true quality in the last few months. He came here with a lot to prove, and he's shown that desire, that work ethic, and was a big part of the group in the second half of last season.
"There is always a lot of interest in a player of Kofi's ability, certainly when he shows it consistently like he did in the last few weeks of last season, but I'm really happy Kofi has signed with us despite offers from League One clubs. If he keeps setting such high standards for himself and the group that level will come to him. When he played for me previously he had the same characteristics and qualities that he has now”.
Born in September 2000 in Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland, Balmer began his career at Ballymena United and made an immediate impact for the Club, scoring on his debut aged 16 in a 1-1 draw away at Coleraine in 2017.
He played 27 times in the 2017/18 campaign, followed by 28 appearances in the 2018/19 season, when he was named as Ulster Young Footballer of the Year. Overall, the defender played 90 times for the Club across all competitions, including four times in the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Europa League, before moving to Irish Premiership rivals Larne in 2021.
Balmer spent just over one season at the Club, where he featured 43 times and appeared six times in the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying stages.
His impressive performances earned him a move to Premier League outfit Crystal Palace in August 2022. Balmer was a regular for the Eagles U23s, whilst also being named on the bench three times for the senior side by manager Patrick Vieira.
During his second campaign at Palace, Balmer went on loan to Sky Bet League Two team Port Vale, where he played 11 times before having a temporary spell at then-League Two team AFC Wimbledon for the second half of the 2023/24 season, playing 17 games and scoring once.
Balmer moved to Scottish Premiership side Motherwell on a permanent deal in June 2024 and scored on his debut in a 3-0 victory over Edinburgh City in the Scottish League Cup. He made 24 appearances for the Steelmen across all competitions in the 2024/25 campaign and featured nine times for them in the 2025/26 before moving on loan to the Pirates in January 2026.
Everyone at Bristol Rovers would like to congratulate Kofi on his move to the Club and wish him every success in the blue-and-white quarters.
