Bristol Rovers have struck an agreement with Crystal Palace to sign Sion Spence on loan, Bristol Live understands.
The Welshman, a star of Palace's under-23s side, is set to join the Gas on a season-long loan, likely to become Joey Barton's eighth signing of a busy summer.
Bristol Live reported on Tuesday the Gas had an interest in bringing the Wales under-21 international, a graduate of Cardiff City's academy, to the Mem.
And Barton has moved quickly to seal a deal with Palace which will see Spence spend the season in BS7, alongside fellow imminent loan signing Luke Thomas.
The Penarth youngster was a surprise casualty in Cardiff's released list last year, having scored 11 goals in 15 appearances for the Bluebirds' under-23s in 2018/19.
But he was quickly snapped up by Palace in September 2020, scoring seven goals and adding assists in 15 PL2 games for the Eagles' under-23s. He is yet to make a first-team appearance.
He will leave Selhurst Park for the Gas in the coming days, in hope of getting more experience in men's football.
Rovers, meanwhile, are getting a talented prospect capable of scoring and creating from midfield – an area which needed addressing following the expiry of Luke McCormick's loan from Chelsea.
Spence will follow midfield additions Sam Finley and Paul Coutts through the Memorial Gates, with strikers Harvey Saunders and Aaron Collins, and defenders Nick Anderton, Connor Taylor and Mark Hughes already brought in.
