Joey Barton is delighted to be reunited with Luke McCormick claiming the midfield was one of the “few positives” from Bristol Rovers’ relegation season, with the 23-year-old returning to the Mem on a three-year contract.
McCormick is now a full-time Rovers player after several weeks of painstaking negotiations between the Gas and AFC Wimbledon in which the move threatened to collapse but with the September 1 deadline drawing near, an agreement has been reached.
McCormick has moved to north Bristol for an undisclosed fee and becomes Barton’s seventh summer signing in what is set to be a hectic end to the summer window. He is already well-known at Rovers following his season on loan from Chelsea in 2020/21 in which the midfielder scored six goals and added two assists in 39 appearances, but was unable to save the Gas from relegation.
His performances, however, endeared him to the absent Gas faithful - with that season played behind closed doors - but also Barton and his staff, with McCormick’s potential ceiling an exciting prospect. Indeed, had Rovers not gone down that season, they would have been in the box-seat to sign the midfielder who instead moved to AFC Wimbledon.
“There were few positives to come out of my first few months at Rovers and the relegation into League two, but without doubt Luke McCormick was one,” Barton said. “His effort and ability were clear to see when throughout that period he gave everything for our course in a tough time. I’m delighted to be able to bring him back to Rovers permanently.
“We are keen to sign good people and good players and he is both. He will be a superb addition to our group.”
McCormick is in contention to make his second Rovers debut against Shrewsbury Town this Saturday but his lack of match action this season suggests he’ll most likely make the bench.
McCormick has been exiled from the AFC Wimbledon squad after making his intentions clear that he wanted a move away from the League Two club, although manager Johnnie Jackson has maintained he’s been injured.
That has only added to the complications around the talks, with AFC Wimbledon wanting a fair price for the midfielder, but also mindful they didn’t want to keep an unsettled asset beyond the deadline.
But Barton has got his man, with the Rovers manager now targeting another four - potentially five, depending on exits - deals before next Thursday night. Despite the drama and the frustration behind the scenes, Rovers president Wael Al Qadi believes McCormick has been “worth the wait”.
“I’m really pleased to welcome Luke back to Rovers,” President Wael Al Qadi said. “It doesn’t seem to be a secret that we’ve been keen to bring him back to Rovers for some time. He’s an exciting talent and a great character and I’m sure the Gasheads will agree that it’s been worth the wait. I’m looking forward to watching him in the Blue and White Quarters as a permanent member of our team!”
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