Barrow snap up Rovers defender for undisclosed fee

Platt returns to Holker Street on a two-year deal, for an undisclosed fee, having spent last season on loan with the National League champions.

The 22-year-old played 31 times for the Cumbrians during an impressive season-long stay, having also had a spell in 2017, as well as temporary stays at Southport and Accrington Stanley.

Inbetween came four appearances for the Rovers senior side, including in the Carabao Cup in August before his loan switch to Barrow, which also followed inclusion in the matchday squad for the defeat at Fulham.

His other three appearances all came in Rovers’ 2017 Checkatrade Trophy campaign.

Platt was one of three Rovers players to spend time on loan at Barrow last season, with another Tom White, having joined Bolton on a season-long loan on Tuesday.

The central midfielder teamed up with Ian Evatt once again, with the manager having joined Bolton in the summer after guiding Barrow to promotion.

Dunn was hired as Evatt’s replacement earlier this month, and has made a move for Platt, a player he previously worked with during his time as Rovers Under-23s assistant manager.

Platt had been out of contract at Rovers this summer, but signed a one-year extension, but his long association with Rovers is now at an end after signing a permanent deal with Barrow who will embark on their first Football League season in almost 50 years.

And Platt can’t wait to get going, adding: “I thoroughly enjoyed my loan spell here at AFC Barrow.

“Everyone at the club were so welcoming and supportive when I first arrived and I was delighted to have played a small part in securing their promotion back to the EFL after a 48 year absence.

“To be able to turn that loan move into a permanent arrangement is hugely exciting as the future of this club looks very, very bright and I’m really looking forward to working once more with the new manager David Dunn, who I know well from my time with Blackburn’s Under-23s.”