Bristol Rovers confirm loan signing of midfielder Ryan Woods from Hull City

 

Bristol Rovers have confirmed their 12th signing of the summer with the acquisition of defensive midfielder Ryan Woods on a season-long loan from Championship side Hull City.

The 29-year-old boasts bags of experience with the likes of Brentford, Birmingham City, Stoke City and Millwall on his CV, having made a career total of 394 appearances. 274 of those have come in the Championship.

Making 29 appearances for the Tigers last term, the Englishman hasn’t been involved in a matchday squad for Liam Rosenior’s side this season and last featured on April 29 with a cameo from the bench against Swansea City.

On Woods’ arrival, Rovers boss Joey Barton said: “We are delighted Ryan Woods has agreed to join us on loan from Hull. Ryan is another player who adds both quality and experience to our group and I’m sure he will be a great addition creating more competition for places.”

Having also re-signed Lamare Bogarde on a season-long loan from Aston Villa last week, the Gas now have particularly healthy depth in the middle of the park with the transfer window set to shut next Friday (September 1) at 11pm.

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Ryan Woods has departed Hull City after the club agreed a season-long loan deal with Bristol Rovers. The 29-year-old heads to League One for the season and is expected to go straight into the Bristol side, with Rovers to become the seventh club of Woods’ career.

Only signed last summer on a three-year contract, the midfielder has not featured at all this season so far and played just 11 minutes in the Championship during City’s final 14 games of last season.

With no real future at the club for him under Liam Rosenior, a departure has been expected in recent weeks after the City boss revealed he didn’t see the player in his plans and had informed him he could leave.

“I’ll put this on record as well. He’s a top player, a top lad but he’s just not the right type for us at the moment in terms of our midfield options,” said Rosenior at the start of the month when revealing he had met with Woods at the club’s training ground to inform him that he was free to find a new club.

After interest from a number of clubs in the lower leagues, an agreement has been reached with Bristol Rovers, who are looking to strengthen after an indifferent start to the campaign so far with just one league win from their four games.