Doncaster Rovers have been busy this summer, with seven new signings already through the door.
Matty Pearson leads way in experience
Grant McCann and his backroom staff have done an excellent job in recruiting defender Matty Pearson when he left Huddersfield Town, laying the groundwork for survival in Sky Bet League One.
Doncaster were promoted as champions last season, winning the title with a final-day victory against Notts County after defeating also-promoted Bradford City the week before to ensure their third-tier status.
The order of the day is now to consolidate their place back in League One, and Pearson’s signing allows observers to construct a picture of how this can be accomplished most effectively.
Experience is essential.
Pearson has buckets of that. The 31-year-old has appeared in nearly 100 third-tier games, as well as 193 Championship games.
The centre-back left the Terriers after four seasons and 135 appearances. Pearson’s healthy, steady flow of games suggests that he will be a welcome addition to Doncaster Rovers, adding to the calibre of players such as Billy Sharp.
Doncaster Rovers finding blueprint for League One survival
Pearson fits seamlessly into the Rovers defence, filling the void created by retiring Richard Wood and Shrewsbury Town’s new signing Tom Anderson, who chose to remain in League Two rather than join Doncaster back into the third tier.
| Matty Pearson’s time at Huddersfield Town (source: Transfermarkt) | ||
| Appearances | Goals | |
| 2021/22 | 42 | 4 |
| 2022/23 | 18 | 5 |
| 2023/24 | 39 | 3 |
| 2024/25 | 36 | 5 |
The former League One winner has played extensively for Luton Town, Halifax Town, and Accrington Stanley, as well as Rovers’ South Yorkshire rivals Barnsley.
Pearson can serve as Doncaster’s model, offering essential experience for survival. Rovers have a number of young, eager players, many of whom have never played in League One.
As a result, having a player around who has proven himself in the division in recent seasons is a huge advantage for McCann’s team as they prepare for the next step up in quality following their title-winning season.
Grant McCann has been busy in the transfer market
Doncaster recently recruited a youthful couple to its roster. Tottenham Hotspur prospect Damola Ajayi, who has a Europa League goal and medal to his name, arrived at the Eco-Power Stadium ahead of defender Sean Grehan.
The latter arrived for an unknown sum from Crystal Palace, resolving the mystery of who the Premier League’s permanent centre-back signing was while also providing quality and plenty of upsides that he demonstrated during a loan spell at Bohemians in the League of Ireland.
Ajayi and Grehan became the club’s sixth and seventh additions this summer, joining winger Glenn Middleton, central midfielder Robbie Gotts, loanee goalkeeper Thimothee Lo-Tutala, frontman Brandon Hanlan, and Pearson.
Hanlan, who is now 28 years old, is another example of League One experience joining the Rovers team. He signed after leaving Wycombe Wanderers, although played part of previous season on loan at fellow third-tier club Stevenage.
The attacker strengthens Pearson’s argument, since his previous experience in the division is one of the important threads in McCann’s diversified and outstanding signings this summer.
To survive in a competitive League One, you must have divisional experience. Rovers has added a spoonful of that mix to their squad by adding Pearson.
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