Bristol Rovers is delighted to confirm the signing of Ciarán Kelly from Sky Bet League One side Bradford City.
Defender Kelly has put pen to paper on a two-year contract and is Rovers’ sixth signing of the summer.
The 27-year-old moves to the Pirates from the Bantams, where he made 94 appearances across all competitions and helped them gain promotion out of Sky Bet League Two in the 2024/25 season.
“It’s great to sign for Bristol Rovers,” he said. “I am looking forward to getting started. There has been a lot of positivity around the place since the gaffer came in, and that is going to continue into next season. Hopefully, I’ll be a big part of that.
“Bristol Rovers is a massive club, and they don’t belong in the league they are in. Hopefully, I can go in there and help the boys that are already there and the new ones coming in to get us out of the league and into a higher one. So, I’m really looking forward to it.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing what The Mem is like and what the crowd can be like. I’ve only heard good things, so I’m really looking forward to seeing and hearing the noise.
“It was a nice break, but I think every footballer has that time where they just want to get back into it, and I am at that stage now. I’m itching to go. I’ve been doing a few runs before pre-season starts, but I am itching to get in and around the boys and get started.”
Manager Steve Evans said: “My patience has finally paid off and I am really happy to sign Ciarán. Many times, I’ve thought the lad might be on the move elsewhere and he must have thought I was following him around, given my interest!
“Ciarán is a commanding centre-back, a true pro and a real competitor. He had a variety of options this summer, including some big names in the Scottish Premier League, so I’m delighted he’s chosen to join us.”
Kelly was born in Lucan, Dublin, in 1998 and played for Esker Celtic, Lucan United and Peamount United in his youth before signing for League of Ireland Premier Division side St Patrick's Athletic on his 17th birthday.
The defender made his first senior appearance off the bench in a 5–2 win over Dundalk on October 25 2016, and made two more appearances the following season before moving to League of Ireland First Division side Drogheda United in 2018.
Kelly was an ever-present for Drogheda in his only campaign at the Club, playing 39 times in all competitions and scoring seven goals from centre-back, helping the Drogs finish fourth in the table, beating Shelbourne in the play-offs before being knocked out by Finn Harps.
He returned to St Patrick's Athletic in 2019 and made 25 league appearances for the Pat's before moving to Bohemians. Kelly played 74 times for the Club across all competitions and had a loan spell at Ballymena United before moving to England to sign for then-Sky Bet League Two outfit Bradford City in January 2023.
Kelly made his Bantams debut in a 3-2 win over Stevenage and made four appearances for the side in the 2022/23 campaign before playing regularly the following term, featuring 43 times.
The centre-back then played 21 times in Sky Bet League Two in the 2024/25 season as the Bantams clinched promotion on the final day of the season, with Kelly starting their 1-0 triumph over Fleetwood Town, which saw them finish in third place. Kelly played 18 times in Sky Bet League One last term, with Bradford finishing fourth.
Everyone at Bristol Rovers would like to warmly welcome Ciarán to the Club and wishes him every success during his career with the Gas.
