Bristol Rovers Edge Closer To Summer Transfer Target

Bristol Rovers are closing in on the signing of Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Luke Southwood in a move that could be wrapped up early this week.

The Northern Ireland international looks set to drop into League Two in search of regular first-team football, with a medical reportedly imminent.

Southwood Set for Rovers Switch Despite Initial Concerns

After initial uncertainty surrounding Bristol Rovers’ interest—especially following the signing of Brad Young—Southwood now appears poised to join the Memorial Stadium outfit. The 27-year-old made 26 appearances in his sole season at Bolton but was expected to fall behind Chelsea loanee Teddy Sharman-Lowe in the pecking order heading into the 2025/26 campaign.

That shift in status has prompted Southwood to consider his options, and with Rovers showing firm intent, the move now looks close to completion. The former Reading man, who also featured internationally for Northern Ireland earlier this summer, had been given extended time off but is unlikely to return to Bolton training with a transfer progressing quickly.

Steven Schumacher had rotated Southwood with Nathan Baxter last season but made no secret of his desire to bring in a new first-choice stopper. Sharman-Lowe, fresh from winning the U21 Euros with England and a League Two title with Doncaster Rovers, is expected to take the number one shirt, leaving Bolton with a decision to make on their goalkeeping depth.

Southwood’s exit would open the door for academy product Luke Hutchinson to step up as backup. The 22-year-old recently penned a new two-year deal and could now see more action, unless Wanderers opt to bring in further reinforcements.

Southwood’s arrival at Rovers would add experience and composure to Matt Taylor’s side, who are aiming to push for promotion from League Two after a season of transition. With the deal nearing completion, all eyes now turn to whether Bolton will dip back into the market to strengthen their goalkeeping options further.

Writer’s View

This move makes complete sense for both player and club. Southwood deserves to be playing regularly and Bristol Rovers are gaining a calm, reliable presence between the posts—something they lacked at times last season.

For Bolton, it clears the way for Sharman-Lowe to develop as the club’s long-term number one while potentially accelerating Luke Hutchinson’s pathway. It’s a well-timed reshuffle all round—and a sign that both clubs are moving decisively in their summer business.

Gary Hutchinson is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Real EFL, which he launched in 2018 to offer dedicated coverage of the English Football League. A writer for over 20 years, Gary has contributed to Sky Sports and the Lincolnshire Echo, while also authoring Suited and Booted. He also runs The Stacey West and possesses a background in iGaming content strategy and English football betting. Passionate about football journalism, Gary continues to develop The Real EFL into a key authority in the EFL space.

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