Bristol Rovers transfer update as player heads for exit door after Chelsea star joins

Joey Barton has confirmed that Harvey Vale has joined Bristol Rovers on a season-long loan from Chelsea.

It was reported on Monday that Vale’s move to the Gas was imminent, and that he would be spending the 2023/24 campaign at the Memorial Stadium. He was wanted by Barton in January, but as he had already played for two clubs competitively last year, he could not go back out on loan, but now the 40-year-old has got his man after confirming the news himself.

“Harvey Vale signed and added to our group,” posted Barton on his Twitter subscription account. “Squad is in a really good place and we are looking forward to @CAFCofficial tomorrow night. #UTG.

As Vale’s move is confirmed, one player leaving the club is academy graduate Harvey Greenslade, who has joined Truro City. The 19-year-old will spend the next month with the National League South outfit, and rejoins them following a spell at Treyew Road last season.

He returns to Cornwall for a second stint and made an immediate impact, having scored against Braintree Town in a 3-2 defeat on Saturday. Greenslade could be in action tonight against Yeovil Town, and is in line to make his home debut against Hampton & Richmond Borough on Saturday. Clubs outside of the EFL are not bound by a transfer window and so Greenslade could extend his stay at Truro or move to another club should he excel in his short time there.

The 19-year-old signed a new one-year contract with the club this summer, and his current deal runs out in the summer of 2024. He had been part of the senior teams pre-season preparation but Andy Mangan admitted that Greenslade needed to 'go out and play games' which would help suit Bristol Rovers. It is expected that Jerry Lawrence and Ryan Jones will also depart the club on loan this summer, having seen Jed Ward go to Wealdstone for the season.