Bristol City sign striker Tolaj from Plymouth

Bristol City have signed Swiss striker Lorent Tolaj from Plymouth Argyle on a four-year deal, for an undisclosed fee.

The 24-year-old has scored 38 goals in all competitions across the past two seasons.

Tolaj quickly found form at Port Vale after arriving from non-league Aldershot Town in 2024, netting 14 goals in 37 league appearances for the Valiants as they won promotion to League One, before moving to Home Park last August.

At Argyle, the centre forward formed a formidable strike partnership with Bim Pepple, scoring 17 league goals last term.

Despite suffering a muscle tear in his leg in late February, Tolaj was back to full fitness by Easter, and scored four goals and provided four assists in Argyle's final six matches of the season as they missed out on the play-off places by two points.

He becomes Bristol City's seventh signing of the summer following the acquisitions of players including Sam Tickle,Jed Wallace,Sam Greenwood and Lisav Eissat.

It is understood that Vale will receive a portion of the transfer fee from Argyle, due to a sell-on clause included in Tolaj's contract last summer.

Tolaj told the club website: , external"It is a great club with a great fanbase and I spoke with the manager about the plan. I am ambitious and this club is ambitious, so that's why I wanted to come here.

"To make the step up is important for me and I will give everything for this football club."

Robins boss Michael Skubala added: "We are really pleased to add Lorent's physicality and intensity to our front line.

"His progression over the past few seasons is testament to both his talent and work ethic. He will add a different dimension to our squad and we believe he will thrive working with the group."

Ed Hadwin, BBC Radio Bristol

Ask any Bristol City fan what their key signing needed to be this summer and the most likely answer would have been a striker.

Emil Riis had a solid first season at Ashton Gate, but the goals dried up towards the end of the campaign and their lack of strength in depth up front was a real concern.

Tolaj is unproven yet in the Championship, but his goals return over the last couple of years, his pedigree in having come through the Brighton Academy and his style of play suggest he has what it takes to become a fan favourite.

He does come into a squad which already looks different to last season and with more changes likely a little patience may be required – for both him and the team – in the opening weeks of the season.

Brent Pilnick, BBC Sport, Plymouth

While not unexpected, Lorent Tolaj's departure will still be a blow to Plymouth Argyle.

The Swiss striker proved to be a revelation in less than one season at Home Park (he played four times for Port Vale before his move in late August).

He proved himself to be arguably League One's top striker last season. Had he not missed the best part of two and half months through injury from late January, he would have probably topped the goalscoring charts and earned a place in the League One Team of the Season.

It also represents good business for Argyle - the fee thought to be in excess of £4m quadruples the £1.1m they paid less than a year ago.

Two questions now persist - can Argyle keep Tolaj's highly-rated strike partner Bim Pepple and can they find a replacement as good?

Argyle waited until late in the window to get their man last summer, they will hope they can bring in someone a lot sooner this time around.