Riis joins Bristol City after Preston contract expires

Bristol City have signed striker Emil Riis Jakobsen after he left Preston North End this summer. The 27-year-old Danish forward has agreed a three-year deal at Ashton Gate and arrives on a free transfer.

Championship watchers who check football tips today on the best online bookies will know Riis well from his five seasons at Preston. He scored 46 goals in 186 games for the Lancashire club and finished last season with 12 league goals despite Preston’s struggles near the relegation zone.

Other clubs wanted Riis, too. Coventry City and Sheffield United both tried to sign him, according to reports. Sky Sports expert Don Goodman called Bristol City’s capture of the striker “brilliant” but said he was surprised they beat the competition.

The move helps Bristol City rebuild their attack after losing Nahki Wells. Riis will work with Sinclair Armstrong and Fally Mayulu under new boss Gerhard Struber. Technical director Brian Tinnion said they were “very pleased” to get Riis and praised his Championship experience.

Riis started at Randers in Denmark before moving to England through Derby County’s academy. He had a short loan at VVV-Venlo in Holland, then returned to Randers, where Preston spotted him. They paid about £1 million for him in October 2020.

The 2021-22 season was when Riis shone, when he scored 16 goals in the Championship League. Supporters still talk about his dramatic equaliser against Bristol City that year. He fired home with just minutes left on the clock to grab a point for Preston. Now he’ll be looking to find the net for his former opponents instead.

Preston knew they would lose Riis when his contract ran out. They told supporters in May that he would leave. Riis thanked the club on social media after five years there. He became popular with fans for his work rate and finishing ability.

Bristol City are targeting a return to promotion contention next season. Last term, they ended up 11th, miles away from the playoff spots. Riis has represented Denmark through the youth ranks and earned a senior squad call-up for World Cup qualifiers.

The striker believes Bristol City shares his goals for the future. He talks about wanting to climb higher in football and thinks the club can make that happen. The Robins offer strong training facilities and have helped plenty of players grow, which caught his attention.

Riis will be 27 next month, bang in the sweet spot for any striker. English football didn’t phase him when he arrived from Denmark. His goal tally shows he bags them regularly in this division when his teammates set him up properly.

Training sessions have kicked off already, so Riis will meet his new colleagues shortly. City supporters are eager to watch him link up with Armstrong and Mayulu in attack. The club wants his goals to push them into the top six after too many years stuck in mid-table.

Riis adds height and strength to Bristol City’s forward line. Standing 6ft 1in tall, he brings something different from the quicker strikers already there. His knack for holding the ball up and feeding teammates could fit perfectly with what Struber has in mind.

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