Bristol Rovers is delighted to confirm the signing of experienced midfielder Josh McEachran.
McEachran has put pen-to-paper on a two-year contract with Rovers and makes the move to BS7 from Sky Bet Championship side Oxford United.
The 32-year-old brings Premier League, European and vast EFL experience to the Gas and is the Club’s fifth signing of the 2025 Summer transfer window.
“I am delighted to be here”, he said. “Having met the gaffer and Ricky Martin, it became clear that this was a project I was really excited about and something that I wanted to be a part of.
“I am really excited to be here. I will give 110 per cent every game. Coming here in previous years, The Mem has always been a really tough place to visit. I’m looking forward to playing here and giving my all for these fans.”
Head Coach Darrell Clarke hailed McEachran’s technical ability and is looking forward to working with the midfielder.
“I am delighted to welcome Josh to the Club.” Clarke said. “He is calm on the ball and will bring vision, maturity and experience to our midfield.
“He is a brilliantly talented player and a top-level professional who will add quality and personality to our team on and off the pitch.”
Ricky Martin, Director Of Football, said: “Josh is a highly experienced, ball-playing midfielder whose ability will enable us to effectively control matches in the style of football we want to see from our squad.
“His education and upbringing in the game is second to none, maturing into great leader with significant experience at the highest level. He will bring all those attributes and more to our dressing room and training ground, and be a vital part of setting a high standard at the Club.”
Oxford-born McEachran joined Premier League side Chelsea at the age of seven and received his first inclusion in a senior squad during the 2009/10 campaign. His debut came in September 2010, coming on as a substitute in a 4-1 Champions League win over MŠK Žilina, making him the first player born after the competition’s creation to take part in it.
The young McEachran featured for the Blues across their domestic and European fixtures, earning the team’s Young Player Of The Year award in the 20210/11 season.
Loans followed for the midfielder, first with Premier League newcomers Swansea City in January 2012 before a season-long stint with Middlesbrough in 2012/13. He made 38 appearances for Boro that campaign and again spent the 2013/14 season on loan in the Championship across Watford and Wigan Athletic, respectively.
After another season loan, this time to Dutch Eredivisie club Vitesse Arnhem, McEachran permanently departed Chelsea for Championship side Brentford. The midfielder spent four seasons with the Bees, making 101 appearances in all competitions, scoring once and providing seven assists.
The midfielder joined another Championship side, Birmingham City, in 2019, but was limited to just ten appearances in all competitions. He departed the Blues in early 2021 and move to League One side Milton Keynes Dons followed for McEachran, where he established himself in their midfield over the next two-and-a-half seasons.
McEachran’s MK Dons career concluded with exactly 100 outings, including nine assists, before a move back to boyhood club Oxford United for the 2023/24 campaign. He made 34 appearances in all competitions, playing a pivotal role in the U’s earning promotion to the EFL Championship via the League One play-offs.
Another 15 games followed last season for the 32-year-old, including 12 in the second tier of English football.
Everyone at Bristol Rovers would like to welcome Josh to the Club and wishes him every success for his time in the Blue-and-White Quarters.
