Bristol Rovers are interested in signing Plymouth Argyle captain Joe Edwards, according to Bristol Live. The club has made an attempt to sign the seasoned defender during the January transfer window. Edwards is approaching the end of his contract at Home Park after being instrumental in keeping the Pilgrims in the Championship.
Edwards is a true modern legend at Home Park, something that was further cemented by his heroics in the latter part of the 2023–24 season, when he scored the game-winning goal against Hull City to ensure their Championship survival.
Edwards began his professional career south of the river at Ashton Gate, but the 33-year-old had almost left the Pilgrims during the previous transfer window due to a falling out of favour with former head coach Ian Foster. Matt Taylor, the Gas boss, was determined to bring Edwards back to Bristol.
A transfer fell through, but there’s a desire to restart negotiations with Plymouth and Edwards, who still has a year remaining on his Devon contract that gives him the chance to become a coach if he so chooses.
Having made 528 career appearances, he can offer not just significant on-field experience but also a dominant presence in the dressing room, which is why Rovers are aiming to entice him up the M5.
At the end of the previous season, captain Sam Finley left the Gas, still very much a part of Joey Barton’s team. Veteran striker John Marquis also went on, and Jordan Rossiter and Scott Sinclair are still considering new deals.
Chris Martin, Jack Hunt, and James Wilson—a former Plymouth teammate of Edwards’—are among the remaining squad members, who are under contracts through 2024 and 2025. Wilson is in his 30s, but Taylor wants more people to help establish the culture and get past the recent history. Edwards is capable of doing that and keeps up his strong play after making 37 appearances across all competitions in the previous season, including 25 as a starter in the Championship.
While Rovers are attempting to base a significant portion of their transfer strategy on acquiring younger players with lofty potential—a la Kamil Conteh—technical director George Friend has acknowledged the need of maintaining squad balance.
Gloucester-born Edwards, who can play both full-back and wing-back, attended the Aston Villa academy before joining Bristol City, where he made his professional debut in 2011. He played for Yeovil Town, Colchester United, and Walsall as a permanent resident after making four appearances before relocating to Plymouth.
Edwards has made 223 appearances for Argyle since joining the team, and he played alongside Wilson on the 2022–2023 League One winning team.
