Bristol Rovers attacker Ruel Sotiriou has joined Israeli Premier League side Hapoel Jerusalem in a permanent deal, the club has confirmed.
The 25-year-old has been a peripheral figure at the Memorial Stadium this season, especially since the appointment of Steve Evans as head coach last month. Having joined the Gas in 2024 after a stellar season at Leyton Orient, the versatile forward’s debut campaign saw him earn the club’s top scorer accolade with six goals as they were relegated from League One.
The drop to the fourth tier hasn’t been kind on the one-time Cyprus international. He had racked up 18 appearances in all competitions, with his only goal contribution coming as an assist in a 1-0 win over Cheltenham Town in the EFL Trophy in October.
Sotiriou Transfer Confirmed
Having featured just twice under Evans, Sotiriou found himself out of the squad for Saturday’s 1-0 defeat against Colchester United. The head coach was asked about the situation following the game, claiming his absence was down to injury.
It now transpires that it was likely a transfer was on the cards, with the Pirates confirming the deal earlier this evening. In a statement, the club said:
“Bristol Rovers can confirm that Ruel Sotiriou has completed a permanent transfer to Israeli Premier League side Hapoel Jerusalem FC for an undisclosed fee.
“Sotiriou joined the Gas in the summer of 2024 and made 61 appearances in all competitions, scoring six goals.
“Everyone at Bristol Rovers would like to thank Ruel for his efforts in the blue-and-white quarters and wish him every success in his future career.”
Evans Continues Squad Overhaul
It’s already been a busy month for the former Rotherham United boss. He set out his intentions early in the transfer window by cancelling the season-long deal of five loanees, whilst he has already made four additions to his squad.
The arrivals of Ryan De Havilland, Kofi Balmer, Kane Thompson-Sommers, and Riley Harbottle have bolstered his options. It’s unlikely that will be the last of their winter business though.
The 63-year-old admitted earlier this week that he will be targeting more experience in the coming weeks as he looks to pull his team out of a torrid run of form. Their latest defeat means they have lost 13 of their last 15 league outings, leaving them 21st in League Two and just three points above the bottom two.
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