Bristol Rovers is delighted to confirm the signing of forward Fabrizio Cavegn from Swiss Challenge League side FC Vaduz for an undisclosed fee, subject to international clearance.
The 22-year-old has put pen to paper on a three-year deal with the Gas, with the option of a further season.
Cavegn becomes Rovers’ ninth signing of the summer transfer window and will wear the No29 shirt in the blue-and-white quarters.
A versatile attacker with an eye for a finish, Cavegn has registered 41 goals in 103 appearances in his senior career, has played in the UEFA Europa Conference League and also represented Switzerland U21s.
“It’s a good feeling to join Bristol Rovers,” Cavegn said. “I am very excited to come here and I am also very happy. I have met the people here at the Club, and they are very good people, so I am happy to be here.
“The first time that Bristol Rovers contacted me, I said to both myself and my family that I really wanted to do it. The contact with the Club has been really good. I really feel like the Club wants me here and I already feel at home here.”
Head Coach Darrell Clarke welcomed Cavegn to the Club and is looking forward to working with the new addition.
“It is great to welcome Fabrizio to Bristol Rovers,” Clarke said. “We’ve been looking to add reinforcements to our attacking options and Fabrizio will bring versatility, pace, and precision to our front line.
“Fabrizio comes over with a strong goalscoring record in his native Switzerland, and we hope he can settle quickly here at Bristol Rovers and show his talent and abilities to our fans.”
Director Of Football Ricky Martin said: “Fabrizio’s qualities and abilities compliments the different profiles we can already see in our attacking options. He is quick, pacey, aggressive in the press and plays off the shoulder.
“At 22, he has already accumulated a lot of experience in terms of senior-level football across the Swiss Super League, Challenge League and European competitions, with over 100 men’s matches already under his belt.
“It is always an exciting proposition to bring in a player who is new to the English Football League. While all our recruits so far have grown up and played in England, we are looking forward to working with Fabrizio while he undertakes this new opportunity.”
Born in the Ilanz/Glion municipality of Switzerland, Cavegn started playing with Team Südostschweiz U18 in the U17 Elite League and immediately impressed, notching nine goals in eleven appearances. His efforts earned a switch to Chur 97 in the fifth level of the Swiss football league system, where again the teenager found form.
A big move to Swiss Super League St. Gallen 1879 followed in 2021 for Cavegn, who became a regular in their U21s. Twenty goals in 26 appearances saw the then 19-year-old named the top goalscorer in the 1. Liga Classic group 3 for the 2021/22 season, before another 22 goals in the Promotion League a season later.
Cavegn made his first team debut for St. Gallen 1879 in a Swiss Cup win away to Arbedo-Castione in August 2022, scoring after coming off the bench in a 5-0 win. He made his league senior debut at home to FC Sion just two months later, and would go on to feature in four Super League matches for the senior side.
The forward completed a transfer to FC Vaduz in the Swiss Challenge League, the second tier of Swiss Football, in April 2023. Cavegn would immediately become an important member of the squad, starting all 36 league matches and scoring 12 goals in the 2023/24 season, before again playing in every league match and scoring 13 times in the 2024/25 campaign.
Cavegn’s fine form would also help the Liechtenstein-based FC Vaduz win consecutive Liechtensteiner Cups, scoring nine goals in eight games, with his efforts earning Residenzler a place in the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers across two seasons. The forward netted three goals in five outings in the European competition.
Everyone at Bristol Rovers would like to warmly welcome Fabrizio to the Club and wishes him every success in the blue-and-white quarters.
