Transfer news from the bet365 Stadium as Stoke City squad undergoes major changes
Joey Barton is delighted to be able to sign Connor Taylor from Stoke City once again after a year-long wait to get the deal done.
Taylor was a big hit during a season on loan at Bristol Rovers in 2021/22, playing a key role as they won promotion from League Two. Rovers wanted to keep him but the central defender, a boyhood Stoke season ticket holder, returned to the Potteries to stake his claim for a starting shirt under Michael O’Neill – and was handed a new contract.
But the 21-year-old didn’t feature as much as he wanted as the season went on and as Alex Neil has been reshaping his defensive department, and whole squad, this summer, an exit this time around has remained on the cards.
Stoke gave the green light to the deal yesterday after bringing in Luke McNally and Taylor heads back to the Gas for a fee believed to be around £300,000.
Barton told BBC Radio Bristol: “Connor is somebody who already has a story with Rovers. He had a fantastic season in League Two with us and for us, we’d love to continue that journey. But Connor wasn’t our player, he was a Stoke player.
“He went back there and this summer I think there is an opportunity for him to get out. And rightly Connor had a lot of interest. I spoke to Connor and there was Championship interest in him. But there was no doubt in his mind for him and his family that Rovers was the best place for his development.
“It will be a real boost and also another step in the right direction for me of converting a loan player who, if he can’t kick on into his manager’s first team plans like Elliot Anderson, then they’re more than welcome back at Rovers at some point in the future.”
Taylor, who has signed an initial three-year deal, was also wanted by Plymouth Argyle and Barnsley.
He said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be back. It’s no secret how much I enjoyed myself on loan and I want to do that again. The relationship that I built with the gaffer, the fans and all the staff was second-to-none so when I had the opportunity to come back permanently, it was a chance that I had to jump at.”
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