Ex-Bristol City favourite to join League One club upon expiry of contract with Championship side

Jamie Paterson spent five years as a Bristol City player under the management of Lee Johnson, Dean Holden and Nigel Pearson

Former Bristol City fan favourite Jamie Paterson will complete an early summer move to Plymouth Argyle when he leaves his boyhood club Coventry City as a free agent.

Paterson spent five years at Ashton Gate between 2016 and 2021, making 156 appearances for the Robins in all competitions under the management of Lee Johnson, Dean Holden and Nigel Pearson. In his time with the Reds, the attacking midfielder scored 26 goals, played a crucial role in City's impressive 2017/18 Carabao Cup run and helped Johnson's side come close to breaking into the top six.

After being released by the Robins upon the expiry of his contract in the summer of 2021, the former Nottingham Forest man made the move across the Severn Bridge to join Swansea City. The 33-year-old remained with the Swans for three years before jetting across the Atlantic to join MLS side Charlotte FC.

Instead of extending his stay with Dean Smith's side, Paterson returned to the UK earlier this year and started training with his boyhood club Coventry City in January in order to maintain his fitness. Ultimately, the former City midfielder put pen to paper on a contract until the end of the season with the Sky Blues, scoring once, a last-minute winner against Portsmouth, as Frank Lampard's side booked their place in the play-offs.

However, the 33-year-old didn't make it off of the bench in either leg of Coventry's play-off semi-final defeat to Sunderland and his contract won't be renewed with his boyhood club. Instead, he is set to put pen to paper on a deal with Plymouth Argyle and will line up for the Pilgrims in League One next season.

On the move Argyle boss Muslic said: "I am very happy that we have acted quickly to make our first signing of the summer. I spoke to Jamie on a video call last week and I think his character and experience will fit in perfectly in our locker room.

"He can play in a variety of positions along the front line, and will complement the way we want to play next season."

Argyle were relegated from the Championship on the final day of last season. Having had a miserable start to the campaign under the management of Wayne Rooney, results improved following the appointment of Muslic, but it proved to be too little too late as the Pilgrims finished three points adrift of Hull City and safety following their final day defeat to Leeds United at Home Park.

With Paterson added to their ranks, Plymouth will be hopeful of making an immediate return to England's second tier this coming season.