'Build the play' - Bristol Rovers boss explains why the Gas have signed Swansea City defender

He has been on loan in Holland

Bristol Rovers have signed Cian Harries from Swansea City for an undisclosed fee.

The 22-year-old is a left-sided centre-back and has joined Rovers on a two-and-a-half year deal, pending international clearance.

Harries moved from boyhood club Coventry City for Swansea City in 2017, and recently had a loan move to Dutch top-flight side Fortuna Sittard, making eight appearances.

Rovers boss Ben Garner told the club website that Harries is a ball-playing centre-back with strong defensive attributes.

Garner said: "We are delighted to welcome Cian to the club.

"He is a young, left-footed centre-back with great ability to build the play and strong defensive attributes.

"We feel Cian has the potential to really develop as a player and to be a great asset for us.

"He has had a really good grounding in the game and now has the opportunity to push his career forwards here at Rovers."

Whilst Rovers do play Coventry City tomorrow, it seems unlikely that Harries will be able to feature.

The deadline to register players to feature tomorrow was at midday and, with the move still subject to international clearance, it appears Harries will have to sit the match out.

Coventry initially signed Harries after his release from Aston Villa as a 14-year-old and he spent six years at the Sky Blues, signing his first professional deal in 2015.

His time at Coventry also included a brief loan at Cheltenham Town.

In 2017, he came to the attentions of Liverpool, and he played a trial match for the Reds' under-23s before eventually moving to Swansea City.

Whilst Rovers have a healthy number of centre-backs, with Tony Craig, Alfie Kilgour, Tom Davies and Rollin Menayese all able to play in the centre of defence, the majority of them are more at home on the right.

Harries could also be viewed as a long-term replacement for the 34-year-old Craig, who has been one of the first names on the Gas' team sheet over the last two seasons.