Bristol Rovers is delighted to confirm the signing of defender Jack Sparkes from Peterborough United.
Full-back Sparkes has put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the Pirates, after a free transfer with performance-related contingency fees was agreed with Peterborough, and becomes the Club’s first signing of the 2025 Summer transfer window.
The 24-year-old moves to the Gas having started his career with Exeter City, helping the Grecians achieve promotion from League Two in the 2021/22 season, and also played an important role in Portsmouth’s 2023/24 League One title-winning campaign.
Sparkes said: “I’m really happy to be here. Once I heard of Bristol Rovers’ interest I couldn’t wait to get here and get started.
“I spoke to the gaffer and, as soon as I spoke to him, I couldn’t wait to get going. He said the Club has got high ambitions which, for me, is what you want to hear. Speaking with him, it was clear that I would really like to come here, and had to come here, because this is a really good project.”
Head Coach Darrell Clarke welcomed Sparkes to the Gas and is excited by the potential the full-back brings to his team.
“I am very happy to welcome Jack to the team,” Clarke said. “Jack already has a lot of experience playing across the EFL but, at just 24, is still a player who has plenty of room to grow and develop
“Jack brings a real attacking threat, has an impressive left-foot, and is a really good personality off the pitch too. The coaches and I are all looking forward to working with him.”
Director Of Football Ricky Martin said: “Jack is a very positive, front-footed player who will bring even more competition to our left side. His technical qualities give him the ability to create goals and opportunities for his teammates too.
“Jack also comes with a strong understanding of what it takes to succeed in both League One and League Two, having played for multiple teams who have achieved promotions.
“I am pleased he has agreed to join us and be part of our project at Bristol Rovers.”
Born in Exmouth, just eleven miles outside of Exeter, Sparkes joined the Grecians as a youngster and made his professional debut at just 16-years-old, in a 1-1 draw away to Swindon Town. He would score his first goal for the Club two weeks later, in an EFL Trophy fixture against Yeovil Town.
Sparkes would make six competitive appearances across the 2017/18 season for Exeter City before spending two stints out on loan in the 2018/19 campaign; a month with Chippenham Town in National League South before an extended spell with Southern Premier League side Salisbury, scoring twice in 24 showings.
The versatile left-footer established himself in the Exeter City first team in the first half of the 2019/20 campaign, making 26 appearances in all competitions. Injury ruled Sparkes out in early 2020 before the curtailment of the campaign, but he returned to feature for Exeter in the League Two Play-Offs in June, featuring in a losing effort against Northampton Town in the Final.
Sparkes made a further 24 appearances in the 2021/22 season for Exeter – a campaign which also saw him enjoy a short stint on loan at Torquay United – before returning to help the Grecians secure promotion back to League One. The following campaign saw Sparkes make 40 outings in all competitions.
The 24-year-old joined fellow League One side Portsmouth in June 2023 and made 43 appearances in all competitions on the South Coast, helping Pompey secure their promotion to the Championship.
He signed for Peterborough United in July 2024 and would make 28 competitive outings for the Posh last campaign, before spending the second half of the season on loan with League Two side Chesterfield Town, helping them reach the Play-Off semi-finals.
Everyone at Bristol Rovers would like to warmly welcome Jack to the Club and wish him every success in the Blue-and-White Quarters.
