Ciarán Kelly signed for Bristol Rovers in June 2026 from Bradford City and signed a two-year contract at the Gas.

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.