Bradford City defender Ciarán Kelly signs for Bristol Rovers

Bradford City defender Ciarán Kelly has joined Bristol Rovers on a pre-contract.

What was Ciarán Kelly's career like at Bradford City?

Kelly was signed by Mark Hughes in January 2023 from Bohemians in the Irish League. He was a big, strong, left-sided defender, and left-sided centre-halves are always sought after. So, he was brought in to head it, clear it, a bit of a no-nonsense defender.

How did Kelly perform at Bradford City?

He came with a reputation of being a very strong player in Ireland. And, he was brought in very gradually. I think he came with a slight ankle injury, which held him back training-wise, and Hughes used him very slowly.

What does this transfer mean for Bradford City?

As of the end of the 2025/26 season, Bradford City stands at 4th in League One, with 77 points from 46 games, and a recent form of WDDDL. They have scored 58 goals and conceded 51, with a goal difference of +7. The team is 26 points behind leaders Lincoln.