Bryant Bilongo seals permanent Middlesbrough exit as club favourite makes use of connections

Bryant Bilongo has sealed a permanent exit from Middlesbrough this summer, joining League One side Bristol Rovers.

The versatile defender has signed a two-year contract at the Memorial Stadium, with an option for a further year. It comes after he impressed during a loan spell at National League side Ebbsfleet United in the second half of last season. The 22-year-old played an important role as the Fleet avoided relegation from the fifth tier.

At the end of that loan spell, the London-born defender admitted the loan move had helped him rediscover his love of the game after frustrations over his lack of a breakthrough at Boro. With that in mind, and with little prospect of a first-team breakthrough coming any time soon on Teesside, Boro have agreed to sell the prospect.

READ MORE: Middlesbrough defender thanks loan club for 'helping me to enjoy my football again'

For Bristol Rovers, Bilongo becomes their fifth summer signing in a busy summer so far for former Boro favourite George Friend, who recently retired and took up the role of Director of Football with the Gas. Perhaps making use of his connections at Boro after a stellar spell at the club, Friend has added Bilongo to the squad at the Mem.

“It means a lot to sign for Bristol Rovers,” Bilongo told the club website. “My career has been such a journey so far and to continue it by signing for such a big club like Rovers is amazing for me and my family. It’s a big achievement and this is a challenge I’m looking forward to.

“It’s been amazing to come here and see the facilities, and get an idea of where I’m going to be working going forward. This is my new home and I’m excited to be here. I intend to enjoy being a Rovers player to the fullest. I love it all. I love seeing and meeting fans, and everything about football.

"I am still, at my core, a massive football fan. This is a sport and it’s also entertainment, and I like being able to make the fans smile. I hope I can do that and give them plenty to smile and sing about."

Manager Matt Taylor added: “I am happy to welcome Bryant to Bristol Rovers. Bryant is a young defender who has shown his ability on loan in the National League in the last few months, and I am looking forward to working with him in the coming season. At 22, Bryant is still developing and I believe his best years could be here with us at Bristol Rovers.”

London-born Bilongo first joined Boro in January 2022 from Kingstonian having previously had a trial at Chelsea. One of Martin Carter's finds, he would impress in the summer of 2022 during pre-season and that earned him a first-team debut from the bench in a Carabao Cup defeat to Barnsley. That would be his only senior appearance for the club, however, with loan spells at Woking and Ebbsfleet ultimately not bringing him any closer to Michael Carrick's first-team picture.