Bristol Rovers is delighted to confirm the signing of midfielder Jack Aitchison.
Aitchison has put pen to paper on a two-year contract with the Pirates and makes the move to BS7 from fellow Sky Bet League Two outfit Exeter City.
The 26-year-old was an ever-present for the Grecians last season, featuring 51 times across all competitions, and has represented Scotland across several youth levels.
“Bristol Rovers is a big Club and I’m really looking forward to getting started,” he said. “The manager has been promoted a lot of times, and watching from the outside, he was in with the fans at one game, and it looks like there is a real culture there that I want to be a part of. How much the club's ambition to get promoted jumped out to me.
“I’m buzzing to play at The Mem. I’ve heard a lot of good stuff. I know some people who have played there, and they said the fans are unbelievable. I’ve only played there two or three times throughout my career, and it’s always been a really tough place to go. It’s quite a daunting place to go, and I want to be on that side of the team now.
“I know Ben Purrington, who has signed already, so it's good that I know someone already. But I think it’s good to not really know anybody, have a completely fresh start and go from there.”
Manager Steve Evans said: "Jack is a gifted lad, a Glasgow boy. I first became aware of Jack when he broke into the Celtic first team. He played a handful of games at that level, but he's always been a thorn in my team's side and can play in several attacking positions.
"Our supporters will take to this kid, and if we can add goals to his game, he's a top, top Championship player. He gets into some great positions, so we know what we have to develop, and he knows too. He's played in some big games, he's got a lot in the locker, and he still has a lot that he wants to prove. The Gasheads will love him. Wide, number ten, striker, he is excellent in all those positions. The lad had multiple options to select from but I persevered and I got him here.”
Born in Fauldhouse, Scotland, in 2000, Aitchison came through the academy at Scottish giants Celtic and was the youngest ever player to make an appearance for the Bhoys when he came off the bench against Motherwell on May 15 2016. Celtic won 7-0, and Aitchison netted with his first touch, making him the youngest-ever player to score a competitive goal for the club.
Aitchison made three appearances for Celtic before making loan moves to Scottish League One side Dumbarton and Scottish Championship team Alloa Athletic during the 2018/19 campaign.
In the following campaign, Aitchison made his first move to the English Football League, switching on loan to the then-Sky Bet League Two side Forest Green Rovers, where he scored five goals and provided five assists in 28 appearances in the fourth tier.
Aitchison moved to Barnsley after leaving Celtic and signed a three-year contract at the Tykes. However, he spent his first two years at the club away from Oakwell Stadium, going on loan to Stevenage and Forest Green.
Aitchison played 20 times and scored three goals for Barnsley in the 2022/23 season before moving to Scottish Premiership club Motherwell in January 2023. The 26-year-old played 11 times before returning to England a few months later, signing for Exeter in June 2023.
Aitchison was a regular for the Grecians in Sky Bet League One, playing 37 times in the 2023/24 term, followed by another 28 games the season after and 40 matches last campaign. Overall, he played 125 times for Exeter across three seasons at the club, scoring nine goals and registering ten assists.
Everyone at Bristol Rovers would like to welcome Jack to the Club and wishes him every success for his time in the blue-and-white quarters.
