Bristol Rovers have signed former Nottingham Forest midfielder Arvin Appiah on a one-year contract. The 25-year-old joins as a free agent after leaving Spanish side Almería at the end of last season.
Appiah trained with the club for over a week before putting pen to paper and will wear the number 28 shirt. His signing was confirmed ahead of the midweek Jersey Mike's Trophy game at Wycombe Wanderers, a match the Gas lost 4-1. That result leaves Rovers fifth in League Two, with 15 points from nine games, and looking to bounce back from a run of four defeats in their last five outings.
Manager's vision
Manager Steve Evans, who previously worked with Appiah during a loan spell at Rotherham United, was instrumental in the move. Evans praised the player's versatility and revealed the club faced stiff competition.
"He has got a wonderful talent," said Steve Evans. "He can pass, dribble, shoot and play as a six, an eight, a ten, a left wing-back and a left winger."
Evans added that an unnamed Scottish Premiership side was calling Appiah's phone every 30 minutes on the day of the signing. The manager also confirmed that the club had been tracking the player for a significant period, having first tried to sign him during the summer transfer window.
Player's perspective
Appiah, who came through Nottingham Forest's academy, is eager to reignite his career after a period without a club.
"Steve knows what I can do and what I can bring to this team," said Arvin Appiah. "He just wants me to get my confidence back up and I am grateful to him for putting that trust back in me."
The naturally two-footed player brings experience from spells in England, Spain, Portugal and France, including helping Almería win promotion to La Liga in 2022. He featured 31 times for Rotherham United in the Championship during the 2023-24 season. Appiah also had a loan spell at Estoril in Portugal and has represented England at various youth levels.
Appiah is available for selection immediately and could make his debut when Bristol Rovers host second-placed Barnet at The Mem on Saturday. Fans can check the full fixtures list and the latest squad information on the club's official pages. The Gas will be aiming to close the one-point gap to league leaders Salford City.
