Bristol City confirm Josh Stokes loan exit as prospect completes winter move to League One club | Bristol Live

Bristol City prospect Josh Stokes will spend the rest of the season away from Ashton Gate after joining a League One club on loan

Bristol City have confirmed that Josh Stokes has departed Ashton Gate on loan for the remainder of the season, with the attacking midfielder set to spend the second half of the campaign in League One with Stockport County.

Stokes joined the Robins on a permanent deal from Aldershot Town in January 2024, but immediately returned to the Recreation Ground for the remainder of the season, before he truly made the move to the West Country in the following summer.

The 21-year-old featured in the Reds' matchday squad for their 2024/25 season opener against Hull City at the MKM Stadium, and just a matter of days later, made his competitive debut in City colours, when he was introduced as a second-half substitute in a Carabao Cup defeat to Coventry City.

Following the permanent arrival of Scott Twine and the loan addition of George Earthy later that summer, the decision was taken to allow Stokes to leave BS3 on loan once more, with the young prospect making the temporary switch to Cambridge United.

While the U's were relegated from League One at the end of the 21-year-old's sole season at the Cledara Abbey Stadium, Stokes was a bright spark in an otherwise miserable campaign. The City loanee was awarded both Cambridge's Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season award, having scored eight goals and registered four assists in 34 games in all competitions.

Upon his return to the West Country, the attacking midfielder was rewarded for his good form with a new contract at Ashton Gate, with his current deal set to see him remain in south Bristol until the summer of 2028.

Many fans expected Stokes to have an immediate part to play under new head coach Gerhard Struber, but injury limited his involvement over the course of pre-season. Having returned to fitness, he again featured off the bench in the Carabao Cup as the Robins beat MK Dons in August, before making his first start in red and white against Premier League Fulham in the second round.

That start was, unfortunately, however, cut short by a fractured metatarsal, just 14 minutes after kick-off. Although the 21-year-old recovered to be named in four matchday squads leading into the new year, he seemingly sits behind Twine, Anis Mehmeti, Yu Hirakawa and now Sam Bell in the attacking midfield pecking order.

With minutes likely to remain limited at Ashton Gate this term, the decision has been taken to allow Stokes to continue his development under the management of Dave Challinor at Stockport County.

On the 21-year-old's loan exit, Brian Tinnion told City's media team: "This is a great opportunity for Josh to play regular minutes for a side battling for promotion as he continues to return from injury.

"We're really excited to monitor his progress."

Stokes is the second player to depart BS3 this winter, after the Robins confirmed earlier on Tuesday that young defender Raphael Araoye had joined German third division side SC Verl on a permanent basis, a matter of months after signing a one-year extension.

In terms of incomings, Struber's side have already added former Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy to their ranks, while ex-Liverpool prospect Ranel Young has put pen to paper on a deal in BS3 that will see him initially link up with City's Under-21s.