Bristol Rovers is delighted to announce that Jed Ward has signed a new contract with the Club.
The young goalkeeper has put pen-to-paper on a deal at the Memorial Stadium until summer 2028, with a further one year option for the Club to extend.
Academy graduate Ward has been in impressive form throughout the 2023/24 season for the Gas, making eleven Sky Bet League One appearances for Rovers this season. The 20-year-old also featured in a Bristol Street Motors Trophy win away to Newport County in November.
Ward’s fine efforts were rewarded earlier this month with a first inclusion in the England Men’s Elite League squad for fixtures against Poland and Czechia.
“I’m really happy to sign my new contract with Bristol Rovers,” Ward said. “The past few weeks playing in the first team have been unbelievable and I’m really happy to now keep it going.
“It’s been some journey that I’ve been on so far. It’s not even close to being done but it’s really nice to be rewarded for my hard work with these things. I want to take everything I can from it and keep going.
“Things like the England call-up show me I’m on the right path and make the hard work worthwhile. I want to push on now.”
Manager Matt Taylor is delighted that Ward has committed his future to Bristol Rovers.
Taylor said: “It is fantastic that Jed has signed a new contract with the Club. He is a hardworking, committed and determined young player who has reaped the rewards of his efforts so far this season, both with his run in the first team and his recent inclusion in the England set-up.
“A goalkeeper’s peak age is around 30, so we must remember that Jed is still developing in relation to his game and body. We are delighted that he has chosen Bristol Rovers to be his home for the next four years.”
Bristol-born Ward joined Rovers as an eight year old and signed his first professional contract with the Club in February 2021, at 17. The shot-stopper would make his first-team debut three months later, against Blackpool at the conclusion of the 2020/21 campaign.
A trio of loan spells followed for the goalkeeper in 2022, with Ward representing Southern League Premier Division South club Swindon Supermarine, Northern Premier League Division One West team Prescot Cables and National League South club Hungerford Town.
Ward would then join National League side Wealdstone in July 2023 on a season-long loan, making 19 league appearances, although the youngster would be recalled by Rovers in November, returning to play for the first team in a 1-0 win away at Newport County in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.
Ward would make his home league debut for the Gas on 27 January 2024, in a 3-1 win over Oxford United, putting in a man-of-the-match showing for Rovers in the victory. He has played in each of Rovers’ League One matches since.
Everyone at Bristol Rovers would like to congratulate Jed on his new contract and wish him every success for his future with the Club.
