‘Back home’ – Tom Lockyer re-signs for Bristol Rovers until the end of the season, and almost two years after his cardiac arrest.
The 30 year old defender suffered a medical emergency during the Premier League match with Luton Town in December 2023. He had an ICD fitted post-collapse and hasn’t played competitively since.
It was back in 2011 when he began his career at Rovers in 2011, but finally, 14 years on, he returns “home” after medical clearance and training with around five months with the club.
He’ll wear the No.12 shirt in tribute to the fans, with permission from the Supporters Club, and has since expressed joy at resuming his career.
Welcome back Locks 😍
We are delighted to announce the return of Tom Lockyer to the Club 🙌
— Bristol Rovers (@Official_BRFC) October 23, 2025
CLUB STATEMENT:
Bristol Rovers is delighted to announce the return of Tom Lockyer to the Club.
Six years on from his initial departure, defender Lockyer has put pen-to-paper on a contract with the Pirates until the end of the season.
With the gracious permission of the Bristol Rovers Supporters Club, Lockyer will wear the No12 shirt in the blue-and-white quarters in recognition of the incredible support shown to him by Rovers fans throughout his career.
The 30-year-old rejoins the Club where he started his professional journey and completes an incredible comeback following a cardiac arrest in a Premier League fixture with Luton Town in December 2023.
Almost two years have passed since the defender’s last competitive fixture and Lockyer is thrilled to be resuming his career back with Rovers.
“It feels really, really good to once again be a Bristol Rovers player,” Lockyer said. “Obviously I’ve been training here for a while and I’ve tried not to think too much about it or get too excited about the ifs, buts and maybes. But as soon as I knew that Darrell wanted to get something done, it was easy for me to then make a decision about coming back home.
Rovers. It’s a family thing 💙 pic.twitter.com/Tw86JitLmS
— Bristol Rovers (@Official_BRFC) October 23, 2025
He added: “It is so hard to explain but it’s everything I’ve worked so hard for over the last two years. Hopefully I can have many, many more good memories in a football shirt. I’m going to celebrate the little wins back on a football pitch and I just want to enjoy it. I wouldn’t be doing this otherwise. I’m doing this because I love playing football and I’ve got that massive desire to play football again, and what better place to do that than back home at Bristol Rovers.”
Head Coach Darrell Clarke said: “I’m delighted to have Tom back with us. He’s a lad I’ve got a lot of admiration for, which has only increased after everything he and his family have gone through in the last couple of years.
“I always believed Locks had the ability to make it at the highest level and he proved that, playing in the Premier League with Luton Town, and his application and work-rate epitomises everything I know the fans love about our players.
“I also know our supporters were hopeful we might be able to get something done with Locks. Deals to bring in players of Tom’s calibre involve cohesion and hard work across the Club and I’d like to thank everyone involved, especially the Board and Ricky, for getting this over the line.
“It’s been great having him around the training ground, and he’s already settled into the group well. It will be great to see him back out there in the blue-and-white quarters.”
“As soon as I knew that Darrell wanted to get something done, it was easy for me to then make a decision about coming back home.” pic.twitter.com/wI6pHw4uqf
— Bristol Rovers (@Official_BRFC) October 23, 2025
Born and raised in Cardiff, Lockyer signed a scholarship with Rovers in 2011 and made his debut for the Gas in a 3-0 win over Fleetwood Town, coming on as a substitute in place of another returning player in Ellis Harrison.
After signing his first professional contract in May 2013, Lockyer netted his first league goal in a 1-0 win over Northampton Town in August of the same year.
With Clarke as manager Lockyer became a regular in the Rovers starting XI, featuring as a near-ever-present as the Gas achieved promotion from the Conference National League in 2014/15 and then from League Two in 2015/16.
Lockyer played in every League One match in the 2016/17 season for Bristol Rovers and marked his 200th appearance for the Club with the opening goal in a 3-2 win over Bury in August 2017.
Luton post emotional farewell as Tom Lockyer reveals he’s been cleared to play football again
The defender moved to Championship side Charlton Athletic in June 2019 and played in every minute of 43 league games for the side before joining Luton Town in September 2020.
Lockyer’s performances developed during his time with the Hatters, with the centre-back named captain during the 2022/23 season and earning a spot in the EFL Championship Team Of The Season.
He would score the goal that secured Luton’s spot in the Championship Play-Off Final and started the final against Coventry City as Town earned promotion to the Premier League for the first time ever.
Lockyer made 14 Premier League appearances for Luton prior to the fixture with AFC Bournemouth in December 2023, in which he suffered a cardiac arrest. He was resuscitated on the pitch and had an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator fitted, and has since worked tirelessly to secure his return to the game.
Everyone at Bristol Rovers is thrilled to welcome Tom back to the Club and wishes him every success on his return to the Gas.
HIS CAREER:
Youth
Radyr Rangers
2006–2011 – Cardiff City
2011–2012 – Bristol Rovers
Senior
2012–2019 – Bristol Rovers – 285 games (7 goals)
2019–2020 – Charlton Athletic – 43 games (1 goal)
2020–2025 – Luton Town – 117 games (7 goals)
2025– Bristol Rovers
International
2015–2016 – Wales U21 – 7 games (0 goals)
2017–2023 – Wales – 16 games (0 goals)
Here’s how fans reacted as Tom Lockyer re-signs for Bristol Rovers almost two years after his cardiac arrest…
@SteveConky: Mint to have Locks back regardless of the bigger story! Top player and underrated in his last spell. Welcome back! UTG
@Nick32741980: As a Gas Head I am buzzing for this !! 😎👍 Im so happy for us as a club and for Tom this must be massive!! Welcome home Tom ❤️I have the same heart issue as Tom and I’m just starting my journey back to full fitness and health so I know how bloody huge this is for Tom! 😍 UTG!!
@SteveTheScout1: Great signing, welcome home Tom!
@jazzanovaboat: Fucking brilliant! Go well, captain! You will be missed!
@LP15393: If we can’t improve our defence now then something is seriously wrong
@TheKaiserBCFC: This is usually the point I say something taking piss about their signings… But I can honestly say away from the pitch he is a genuinely top bloke who does so much more than many realise. On the pitch? Proper wind up merchant (I’ve fallen for it too 😂) #BristolCity #utg
@thatchersend: Bloody hell this one feels good. Welcome back Locks!
@Richbow79: Legend, leader, gave everything for the shirt. Go well Locks. We will always have Sunderland (H)
@TheExiledRobin: Nice. A good news story from t’other lot
@BRFCSamuel: Words cannot express how buzzing I am with this
@SSE_LTFC: Wishing you nothing but health, happiness and success Locks ❤️ Once a hatter ❤️
@brfcjacob: Just hit a cheeky celebration in my living room 🤩 Alfie Kilgour + Tom Lockyer are my two favourite Gas players of all time. Surreal feeling have them both back!
@rhirhibeee: lovely news in what has been a rough few weeks as a rovers fan 🥹 welcome home locks 💙
@LukeShearing11: Oh I absolutely love to see it 😍 Welcome home Locks 💙
