Bristol Rovers is delighted to confirm the loan signing of striker Gatlin O’Donkor from Championship side Oxford United.
The attacker moves to The Memorial Stadium for the rest of the 2024/25 campaign and is Rovers’ fifteenth summer signing this transfer window, and fifth on loan.
“It feels amazing to be a Bristol Rovers player,” said O’Donkor. “I can’t wait to get out there and show people what I can do. Speaking with the manager, I feel the way he wants to play really suits me. I just can’t wait to get out there.
“Bristol Rovers has always been a tough place to go. Obviously, the way the fans are, they’re always backing the team. They make it a tough place to go for teams, so I can’t wait to be a part of that.
“I just want to give 100 per cent every game and score as many goals as I can. Promotion is the end goal for every team in the league, so we’ll see how that goes.”
Manager Matt Taylor welcomed O’Donkor to the Club and is looking forward to working with the teenage forward.
Taylor said: “We are pleased to welcome Gatlin to the Club. Despite his young age, Gatlin already has good experience in the EFL and he added to that with a loan move in the National League in the second half of last season.
“We are looking forward to working with Gatlin and helping him improve on his own game throughout the remainder of the season.”
Born in Reading, O’Donkor came through Oxford United’s academy and holds the record for being their youngest-appearance maker, debuting off the bench in an EFL Trophy match against Forest Green Rovers on 8 December 2020 at just 16-years old and 55 days.
The striker was sent on a one-month loan to National League South side Oxford City on 5 March 2022, scoring once in four appearances before returning to his parent club. He made his Sky Bet League One debut soon after, coming off the bench in a 1-1 draw with Doncaster Rovers.
O’Donkor signed his first professional contract in August 2022 and was a regular for Oxford the following season, making 29 league appearances, including nine starts, and scoring two goals.
The 19-year-old continued to play for the Yellows the following season. All twenty of his league appearances came off the bench. He then spent the second half of last season with National League outfit Barnet, signing on loan in February.
The striker made an immediate impact, netting on his debut in a 4-2 win over Fylde and scoring five goals in thirteen appearances.
Everyone at Bristol Rovers would like to welcome Gatlin to the Club and wish him every success for his loan spell in the blue-and-white quarters.
