9 players set to leave Bristol Rovers | OneFootball

Bristol Rovers are in for a busy summer ahead, with player departures likely. We'll guide you through which players are set to leave.

Steve Evans has certainly made a positive impact at Bristol Rovers, and the club's supporters will be eagerly anticipating how far he can take them next season.

The Gas had previously been struggling at the wrong end of the table in the first-half of the season whilst under the management of Darrell Clarke, and Evans' arrival proved to be a success for all involved.

Bristol Rovers have been in brilliant form under Evans, and it's set to be an interesting summer ahead, as the former Rotherham United boss plans for the 2026/27 league campaign.

This will be Bristol Rovers' second successive year in the fourth tier of English football, and the Gas fanbase will be hoping to see their side return to League One at the earliest of opportunities.

We'll take you through the nine players that are set to leave Bristol Rovers this summer, although it's worth remembering that some of these players could be offered new contracts that extend their stay at the Memorial Stadium.

Tom Lockyer

Lockyer started his career with Bristol Rovers, having worked his way through the club's academy system. He went on to make 255 appearances for the Gas in his first spell with the club, before departing in favour of a move to Charlton Athletic in 2019.

He's gone on to feature in the Premier League for Luton Town, before a serious cardiac arrest against AFC Bournemouth in December 2013 cut short his time with the Hatters.

Lockyer signed up with Bristol Rovers for his second spell in October 2025, making his first competitive appearance in football in a 4-0 defeat to Crawley Town.

The experienced centre-back is out of contract with Bristol Rovers at the end of the season, and it'll be interesting to see whether he has a future with the club, although, based on a recent interview, he's seemingly keen to sign a new deal.

Luke Thomas

Thomas has been with Bristol Rovers since 2023, having previously been on the books with Barnsley prior to his move to the Memorial Stadium.

The 27-year-old hasn't featured as much in this year's league campaign compared to his previous two years with the club, and so there will be questions raised as to whether they'll look to extend his stay.

He's out of contract at the end of the 2025/26 season, and considering his EFL experience, some might argue that he's worth trying to tie down to a new contract.

Tommy Leigh

Despite being 26-years-old, Leigh has plenty of experience of playing in the EFL. He's played for the likes of Accrington Stanley, MK Dons, Bradford City, and now, Bristol Rovers.

He's currently on loan with the Gas, and so he'll be leaving the club once that loan deal reaches a conclusion at the end of the 2025/26 league campaign, although plenty of Bristol Rovers supporters will be keen to see him sign permanently.

Leigh netted a late brace in a dramatic comeback win against Crewe Alexandra, and also won the club's Player of the Month award in March.

Joel Senior

Joel Senior is next up, with his current deal with the club being set to expire in the coming months, and he's a player that will divide opinion, having featured on a more regular basis this season.

Bristol Rovers have Senior's future in their hands, as they have the option to extend his current contract by a further year if they wish to do so.

He's still very much in his prime at the age of 26, and despite a disappointing first season with the club, he could have something to offer them in the short-term.

Kofi Balmer

Balmer has been on the books with Crystal Palace earlier in his career, but is currently contracted to Scottish side Motherwell. He's spent the second-half of the 2025/26 campaign on loan with Bristol Rovers, and scored in the Gas' 2-0 win over Walsall back in February 2026.

He's made a positive impact with the League Two side, and you'd imagine that he's a player they would potentially try and extend his stay in the near future ahead of next season.

Kane Thompson-Sommers

After spending his youth career with Tottenham Hotspur and Birmingham City, Kane Thompson-Sommers is currently on the books at Bristol Rovers, as he's on loan from fellow League Two side MK Dons.

The 25-year-old has been restricted to a fair few substitute appearances whilst with the Gas, and you'd imagine that he won't want to renew his spell with them moving forward.

MK Dons have already confirmed their promotion into League One though, and so it'll be intriguing to hear if he has a future with them heading into the summer.

Ellis Harrison

The former Welsh youth international signed a one-year deal with the club whilst they were under the management of Darrell Clarke, and he's gone on to make a good impression with current boss, Steve Evans.

Evans has previously admitted that he's keen to extend Harrison's contract, which isn't at all surprising, as the forward has been in great form in the second-half of the season. Most notably, he netted a hat-trick against Cheltenham Town, and was also named as the club's Player of the Month for April.

Richard Smallwood

Smallwood is vastly experienced in the EFL, and that experience has proven useful for Bristol Rovers. He's a player that Steve Evans knows well, having worked with him whilst at Rotherham United.

He can have a positive impact on and off the pitch, and it wouldn't be too surprising to see the Gas make an effort to turn his loan spell into a permanent one over the summer.

Yusuf Akhamrich

Akhamrich is currently on loan at Bristol Rovers from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, and he's been a useful addition to Steve Evans' squad since arriving in January 2026.

The youngster netted a crucial brace against Newport County earlier this year, as well as netting against Walsall and Grimsby Town, in what has been a positive loan spell on the whole.

He's found regular minutes slightly hard to come by recently, and so it seems unlikely that his loan spell will be extended.