Bristol Rovers is pleased to confirm the loan signing of goalkeeper Josh Griffiths.
Griffiths joins the Gas on a season-long loan from Sky Bet Championship side West Bromwich Albion and is Rovers’ ninth signing of the summer.
The England U21s shot-stopper will now spend the 2024/25 season on loan at The Memorial Stadium and continue his development in League One.
“I’m really happy to be here,” Griffiths said. “The deal got done really quickly and, having spoken to the manager, George Friend and Scott Brown, I think this is a move that is a really good fit for me. I’m really excited to get going.
“I’ve had some good conversations with the manager and he has put across his ideas to me, what he wants from the style of play, and those talks went really well. I got a good feel from him in those chats and then had further conversations with George and Scott, who presented the Club really well.
“In truth, I didn’t need much convincing. With the signings the Club made earlier this window too, you can see Bristol Rovers is a team that’s only going in one direction and that’s an exciting project to come and be a part of. I like to think I can come and be a part of that and help the team move forward.
“I just want to hit the ground running now. I’m looking forward to working with Jed Ward and Matt Hall. I’ve heard great things about them both and I’m sure we’re all going to be pushing each other throughout the season.”
Manager Matt Taylor welcomed Griffiths to the team and is looking forward to working with the goalkeeper.
Taylor said: “We are delighted to welcome Josh to Bristol Rovers for the 2024/25 season.
"Josh comes to us with huge potential and a strong reputation at our level. Scott Brown and the Club are looking forward to continuing his development so he returns to West Brom ready to affect their first team."
Born in Hereford, Griffiths joined the West Bromwich Albion Academy at ten years old and impressed throughout his development with the Baggies youth set-up.
The shot-stopper first trained with the West Brom senior team in the 2019/20 campaign, when the Baggies achieved promotion back to the Premier League.
Griffiths would go on the first loan of his career in the 2020/21 campaign, joining then-League Two side Cheltenham Town. He kept a clean sheet on the first professional showing of his career, a 1-0 win over Peterborough United, with his fine efforts throughout the season helping the Club earn promotion and Griffiths himself the Cheltenham Town Young Player of the Year award.
Another loan spell followed in the 2021/22 season as Griffiths moved to Lincoln City. The shot-stopper would make 35 appearances in all competitions, including 33 in League One, before a loan to the third tier of English football with Portsmouth a season later.
The 22-year-old spent the first half of the 2022/23 campaign on loan with Pompey, playing 28 times in all competitions.
Returning to the Baggies, Griffiths featured regularly for West Brom in the second half of the 2022/23 season, making his debut in a 1-1 draw against Blackburn Rovers. He has featured 13 times in all competitions for his parent club.
At international level, Griffiths’ fine form has also caught the eyes of the national youth sides. He has represented England U18s and U20s, and made his U21s debut in a match with Croatia in March 2023. The shot-stopper was part of the England U21s’ squad that claimed the UEFA U21s European Championship last summer.
Everyone at Bristol Rovers welcomes Josh to the Club and wishes him every success for his time with the Gas.
