Ruel Sotiriou, a forward from Leyton Orient, has officially joined Bristol Rovers on a three-year contract.

After joining Bristol Rovers from Leyton Orient, Ruel Sotiriou described his transfer as both “a big challenge” and a “fun one too.”

The 23-year-old, who became Rovers’ third summer transfer window addition, signed a three-year contract at the Mem with a four-year option.

Sotiriou, who came through the East London club’s youth, finished the season as the O’s top scorer with 12 goals and five assists across all competitions. After seven years in the first squad, Sotiriou leaves Brisbane Road.

“It makes me feel so happy to be here,” Sotiriou said to the club’s media. “I’m thrilled to be joining Bristol Rovers. I’m eager to get started even though I know this is a large club.

“It seems obvious to me that this club will only get bigger and bigger. A well-defined strategy has been put in place to advance Bristol Rovers. Although I am aware of the club’s already great standing, it’s intriguing to consider where it might go in the near future.

“With all of the upgrades, it’s a challenging yet interesting task as well. It will be an incredible experience to play for a club like this.”

“It seems obvious to me that this club will only get bigger and bigger. A well-defined strategy has been put in place to advance Bristol Rovers. Although I am aware of the club’s already great standing, it’s intriguing to consider where it might go in the near future.

“With all of the upgrades, it’s a challenging yet interesting task as well. It will be an incredible experience to play for a club like this.”

Sotiriou, a forward who can play anywhere in the attacking midfield three and lead the line, is a fascinating addition to the Gas. He won a League Two promotion with Orient and then led them to an amazing 11th place finish in their first season back in League One last term.

The 23-year-old, who has shown that he can hit the back of the net at this level, should only become better. Chris Martin, 35, will be expected to help with goal scoring after finishing fifth in the League One Golden Boot Race with 16 goals. Sotiriou, who made his debut in March, is also a senior Cyprus international.

Regarding the addition, Matt Taylor said: “We are pleased to have Ruel join the Club. Ruel has demonstrated his potential to score goals in recent years, and his ability to find the net in League One last season was demonstrated.

“Ruel’s current task is to maintain his current level of play and improve even more—not just in front of goal but throughout his game—and we’re excited to work with him to achieve that here at Bristol Rovers.”

According to reporter Pete O’Rourke, Leyton Orient defender Tom James is expected to sign a new contract with the team despite interest from other teams.
James, a defender, joined Leyton Orient in the summer of 2021 after leaving Hibernian on a free transfer.

Since then, he has been a pillar of support for Richie Wellens, making 48 appearances in all competitions to bring his total number of club appearances to 120. James has contributed nine goals and ten back-of-the-field assists along the road.

His current contract with the O’s expires this summer, therefore concerns have been raised about his future with the team.

However, it appears that Orient will soon make a breakthrough.

Reporter Pete O’Rourke of X believes that James, a player for Leyton Orient, is about to sign a new contract at Brisbane Road. It will also be a setback to some League One rivals, as Northampton Town, Stevenage, and Bristol Rovers are all interested in signing him.

The length of the new deal is unknown, but it should do a great deal to stifle interest in James this summer.

A key player to keep

James’ new Leyton Orient contract may or may not be finalised, but securing the Welsh defender’s future this summer will be a significant boost for Wellens and company.

Since joining, he has played a significant role in the O’s efforts to earn promotion from League Two and to establish himself as a regular starter as the team established itself in League One the previous season.

With James joining the team, the club will be able to solidify their position in the third division by reaching new heights in the upcoming season.

James has demonstrated his ability to contribute offensively when playing as a full-back or wing-back for Wellens’ team. He has operated wherever along the backline. He had four assists in the previous campaign and had previously had success at Yeovil Town and Wigan Athletic.

Fending off interest

Northampton Town, Bristol Rovers, and Stevenage will be disappointed by the good news for Leyton Orient.

Any one of those three teams would have found James to be a wise addition, but it appears they will need to look at other choices. With his mobility and well-rounded style, the O’s ace is a unique defender at this level and may not be the simplest man to find alternatives for.

Though James is certain to stay in the city, the League One trio still has plenty of time to bring in other options with less than a week left in the transfer window.

After his contract at Welling United expired, midfielder Antony Papadopoulos signed a two-year initial contract with Crawley Town Football Club.

Papadopoulos signed his first professional deal with the O’s in May 2021 after starting his career in their academy system with Leyton Orient. On September 14, 2021, the 21-year-old earned his senior debut for the London-based team against Southampton U21 at home in the EFL Trophy.

The midfielder gave the O’s a 1-0 victory by scoring the only goal of the match. After that, he played in two more EFL Trophy games, starting in a 4-0 triumph against Crawley during the competition’s group phase. Following his release from Leyton Orient, Papadopoulos joined Welling United of the National South. Antony made 41 appearances for the Wings in the 2023–24 season after making an impression in the 2022–23 campaign. He only missed five games the entire year and scored three goals.

SEE ALSO Supporters of Crawley Town bid farewell to Tsaroulla, who is leaving the team; a midfield player re-signs for the team on a two-year contract; the manager of Crawley Town updates transactions and responds to reports about Orsi; the manager of Crawley Town says that League One is a “challenge we must embrace.”

“I am delighted to get this deal over the line,” Papadopoulos stated after signing his new contract. It has been in the works for some time, so it feels amazing to finally close the deal, and I’m eager to get going. I had a lot of appearances last season and felt like I really came into my own. I have always wanted to return to the EFL, so I’m excited to be here as the club is going through a great period, and I can’t wait for the season to begin.