Bristol Rovers is delighted to announce the return of Ellis Harrison to the Club.
Striker Harrison rejoins his boyhood side on a one-year contract, having departed Milton Keynes Dons at the end of last season, and will wear the No19 shirt in the blue-and-white quarters.
The 31-year-old began his career in BS7, developing through the Rovers Academy and making 205 senior appearances, scoring 52 goals and playing a crucial role in the side’s consecutive promotions from the Conference Premier to League Two and then League One between 2014-2016.
“It’s really good to come back to Bristol Rovers,” Harrison said. “Even when I used to come back here to play against Rovers, it was always nice to come back to The Mem. And it’s even better that I get to play for the gaffer again.
“We trust each other. He’s done a lot for my career. I give 100 per cent for him and I always have and always will. When he gave me the call about coming back to Rovers, it was an easy decision for me to come back and play for this Club again.”
Head Coach Darrell Clarke is pleased to work with Harrison again, having done so during their respective first spells at The Memorial Stadium and at Port Vale.
“It is great to welcome Ellis back to Bristol Rovers,” Clarke said. “Ellis is a top professional, a brilliant athlete, and returns to the Club with significant experience and a real know-how of how to win games and progress through the leagues.
“Ellis was excellent to work with in my first spell at Bristol Rovers, and during our time together at Port Vale, and the coaches and I are looking forward to working with him again this season.”
Director Of Football Ricky Martin said: “Ellis has a strong connection with the Club, having come through our Academy. From the early conversations we had, it was clear he was determined to return to Bristol Rovers, help the team and be a part of this project.
“His profile is a clear match for the type of player we were looking for to strengthen our attacking options and his goals and assists will be immensely valuable for the team this season.”
Born in Newport, Wales, in January 1994, Harrison was picked up by the Bristol Rovers Academy and made his debut at 17 in April 2011 in League One, against Southampton.
The forward began to earn more appearances in the 2012/13 campaign, scoring three goals in 13 League Two showings, followed by another 25 matches for the Gas in the 2013/14 season.
Harrison found form in 2014/15, scoring 20 goals in 40 matches in all competitions, including crucial match-winning goals against Halifax Town and Lincoln City, before netting the all-important crucial equalising goal versus Grimsby Town in the Conference Premier Play-Off Final, with the Pirates securing promotion on penalties to return to the EFL.
The attacker was again an important cog in Darrell Clarke’s team in 2015/16, with seven goals in 30 League Two matches, with his efforts contributing to an incredible promotion to League One after a 2-1 win over Dagenham & Redbridge.
Harrison departed Rovers in July 2018, signing for Championship side Ipswich Town, and featured 16 times in the second tier of English football before a transfer to Portsmouth followed a season later. The forward scored 20 goals in 84 games across three seasons for Pompey.
A move to Fleetwood Town followed for Harrison in January 2022, with his six finishes directly contributing to their survival from relegation in League One. Another move followed in August, as the striker linked back up with Clarke at Port Vale. He found incredible form again under his former manager, ending the season as the team’s top goalscorer for the 2023/24 campaign with eleven goals.
Harrison signed for Milton Keynes Dons in September 2023 and scored 13 goals in 59 showings for the side. He spent the second half of the 2024/25 season on loan with Walsall, playing 12 League Two matches and scoring three times.
Rovers’ newest signing rejoins the Pirates with 106 goals scored in 445 professional appearances across his career so far.
Everyone at Bristol Rovers would like to warmly welcome Ellis back to the Club and wishes him every success at The Memorial Stadium.
