TRANMERE Rovers have confirmed the sale of left-back Ethan Bristow to MLS club Minnesota United for an undisclosed fee.

Bristow, 21, makes the move to the USA following a season with Tranmere Rovers where he scored one goal and recorded two assists in 51 matches for the club across all competitions.

The Maidenhead-born defender started his career in Reading’s academy and signed his first professional contract with the club in October 2019.

Rovers boss, Ian Dawes, said: “Ethan has been a key part of the first team since joining us from Reading last year, and his attitude and development has impressed from the start.

"We knew lots of clubs were looking at him and we had bids for him back in January so it’s no surprise to see him move.    

“Whilst we will be sad to see him go, other players will see how Tranmere is a club where the culture and environment support development, and that will help us to recruit others who have great potential. I wish him all the best in the USA.”  

Rovers chairman, Mark Palios, added: “It is an important part of securing the financial stability of the club for the future that we are a development club, and we have put the people and processes in place to make that happen. I

"In the last six months we have started to see that bear fruit, with some players sold in January and now Ethan securing a move to the MLS. The football staff are now very much focused on securing a replacement.” 

Rovers technical director, Nigel Adkins, said: “It’s important to get the balance between maintaining a competitive team and letting good players develop their careers. That’s why we have been preparing for this move and are well advanced in talks regarding a replacement.” 

Bristow has signed through the 2025 season with a club option for 2026 and will join the Loons pending receipt of his P1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC). 

Minnesota head coach, Adrian Heath, added: “First thing that really sticks out is he has all the physical tools, great size, incredibly quick and for a young guy, he’s played 46 games in League Two last year, and so he’s used to tough physical football and he excelled. He’s not afraid of the physical contact in the game, but he also has a good footballing mind and sees the game well.

“The pleasing thing for us is he had a couple of options to go to the Championship and the minute we spoke to him he had set his heart on coming to Minnesota.

"It bodes well for the future and we are sure that over the course of the next few years we have added a tremendous player and he will be really valuable for us.”