Elijah Adebayo: Bristol City complete free-transfer move for 28-year-old forward

England and Nigeria-qualified striker Elijah Adebayo has joined Bristol City from Luton on a free transfer, giving the Championship club a new centre-forward option for the 2026-27 season.

The 28-year-old completed the move on 25 August 2026 and has agreed a contract with Bristol City running until 30 June 2028. He will continue his career in the English second tier after leaving Luton, who are competing in League One.

Adebayo was born in London and stands at 1.93m. He is a right-footed centre-forward and has represented both England and Nigeria through his nationality eligibility.

His move to Bristol City is the latest step in a career that began in Fulham’s youth system. Adebayo joined Fulham’s under-18 side in 2013 before progressing to the under-23 team in 2016.

He gained senior experience through a series of loan spells while with Fulham. He spent time at Slough and Bognor Regis during the 2016-17 season, followed by a spell with Cheltenham in 2018. In the first half of the 2018-19 campaign, he moved to Swindon Town on loan before finishing the season with Stevenage.

Adebayo left Fulham permanently for Walsall on 1 July 2019 in a free transfer. He later moved to Luton on 1 February 2021, beginning his previous spell with the club after leaving Walsall.

The forward now returns to the Championship with Bristol City, whose first-team campaign includes league football and the EFL Cup. His arrival was registered on 25 August, with the club confirming the move as a free transfer.

Adebayo joins Bristol City without a transfer fee, and his contract keeps him at Ashton Gate until the end of June 2028.