Bristol Rovers have made seven signings in seven days, with the defensive duo confirmed at the weekend

Bristol Rovers completed a double strike at the weekend to make seven signings so far this summer, confirming the arrivals of right-back Joel Senior and centre-back Taylor Moore.

The defensive duo have signed two- and three-year contracts respectively with the Gas and, as has been a common trend with Rovers’ arrivals so far, both also have the option of an extra season built into their contracts.

Senior’s arrival came as more of a surprise after Bristol Live reported last month that the Gas were closing in on a deal to sign Moore with the 25-year-old joining from Morecambe after a superb campaign in League Two.

After helping Carlisle United to promotion from the fourth tier two seasons ago, the right-back was somewhat unlucky not to get the chance to compete in League One, instead joining the Shrimps last summer. However, now the former Burnley Under-21 will get the chance to compete in the third tier for the first time in his career.

“I’m delighted to sign for Bristol Rovers,” Senior told the club’s media. “When I first heard about the chance to come to Rovers, I wanted to take the opportunity. This is a big club with a great fan base and has everything a footballer could want.

“From the outside looking in, I could see how big this club is. From walking in and walking around the training ground you can see what a top facility this is and all the coaches and staff here are brilliant too. As a footballer, you honestly can’t ask for anything more.

“I have been told about the club’s ambitions and how they align with the manager’s vision and I look forward to helping to deliver those goals. I’m glad to be here and I can’t wait to get going.”

Moore, meanwhile, will be a much more familiar name for the Gasheads, having spent seven years at Bristol City, although that spell included six loan spells.

The defender had the opportunity to feature somewhat regularly for the Robins in the Championship in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons, but then had loan spells at Hearts and Shrewsbury Town before being released by City last summer.

After growing up in France and starting his professional career at Lens, the Englishman opted to return to his old homeland when he signed for second-tier side Valenciennes. However, in a difficult campaign that ended in relegation for Les Atheniens, Moore made 22 appearances in all competitions and saw his contract mutually terminated in April.

At 27, the centre-back boasts plenty of experience, admitting that this stage of his career is particularly important. “It feels good to be here,” Moore said. “It was an important decision and the biggest emotion I feel now is pure emotion. I am very, very happy to be here and to continue my journey in football.

“With where the club is at the moment and where they are trying to get to, there is a lot of ambition to climb up League One as much as possible and ultimately become a Championship side. That ambition is here, it has been stated by the manager and as a player you want to go somewhere with that project and ambition.

“This is an important stage for me personally in my career. I want to be in a place where I feel settled and really part of the project. The ambition is to build and continue at Bristol Rovers and it makes this move feel right.”

Rovers players are set to return to The Quarters today for the first day of pre-season, which will also give the new arrivals the opportunity to meet their new team-mates. The Gas have so far confirmed the signings of midfielder Isaac Hutchinson, left backs Clinton Mola and Bryant Bilongo, forward Ruel Sotiriou and centre-back Dan Ellison, as well as Senior and Moore.