sevendayweekender – Doncaster Rovers have strengthened their squad by signing goalkeeper Tommy Simkin on a season-long loan from Championship side Stoke City.
The 21-year-old joins Rovers after gaining valuable experience across several divisions of English football. And is expected to compete for the number one spot during the 2026–27 campaign.
Simkin made 15 Championship appearances for Stoke City last season after stepping in for injured goalkeepers Viktor Johansson and Gavin Bazunu.
Earlier in the campaign, the England Under-21 international spent the first half of the season on loan at Leyton Orient. Before Stoke recalled him in January to provide first-team cover.
His latest move gives him another opportunity to gain regular senior football as Doncaster prepare for their second consecutive season in League One.
Young Goalkeeper Brings Experience Across the Football League
Despite being only 21 years old, Simkin has already built an impressive record through a series of successful loan spells.
Before his stint at Leyton Orient, he represented Solihull Moors, Forest Green Rovers, and Walsall. His most notable spell came with Walsall during the 2024–25 season. Where he made 47 appearances and helped the Saddlers reach the League Two play-offs.
Simkin has also earned recognition at international level. He is part of England’s Under-21 setup and was included in the squad that won the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Slovakia in 2025.
The combination of Championship experience and international success makes him one of the more accomplished young goalkeepers available in League One.
Simkin Excited by Doncaster Project
Speaking after completing the move. Simkin said Doncaster’s ambitions matched his own and made the decision to join the club an easy one.
“In goalkeeper terms, I’m still really young, and I knew I needed to come out on loan again. And I couldn’t think of a better place than here,” Simkin told the club’s official website.
“After speaking to the gaffer, he’s got a goal in his frame of mind, what he wants to achieve. And it matches mine as well.”
Doncaster goalkeeping coach Kyle Letheren also welcomed the arrival of the young goalkeeper. “For someone who is only 21, he has experienced quite a lot over the last three years playing in the Championship. League One and League Two,” Letheren said.
“It is brilliant to see Stoke have trusted us to continue his development, and we are looking forward to working with him.”
Doncaster enter the new season after finishing 14th in League One during the 2025–26 campaign. That followed the club’s League Two title-winning season, which secured promotion the previous year.
With Tommy Simkin arriving on loan from Stoke City, Rovers have added a talented young goalkeeper who already possesses significant Football League experience as they aim to climb higher in the League One standings.
