Gibson becomes third summer signing
Argyle have signed 22-year-old central defender Lewis Gibson.
Gibson joins the Pilgrims on a permanent basis, having left Premier League side Everton.
Lewis becomes the third signing of the summer transfer window, following Julio Pleguezuelo and Kaine Kesler-Hayden.
Durham-born, Gibson’s youth career began at Newcastle United, but he switched to Everton close to his 17th birthday.
In 2017, Gibson was part of the England squad that included players such as Phil Foden, Conor Gallagher and Emile Smith Rowe that won the Under-17 World Cup, during a time when current Argyle Director of Football Neil Dewsnip was England’s Technical Lead. Gibson subsequently played for the Three Lions at Under-18 and Under-20 level.
After four games for Everton Under-21s in the EFL Trophy, Lewis headed to Fleetwood Town, managed at the time by Joey Barton, for the conclusion of the Sky Bet League One 2019/20 season.
Gibson spent the following season at Reading, playing 13 games in the Championship, before a season with Sheffield Wednesday was limited to a handful of games because of injury.
Last season, Lewis linked up with Barton once more, this time at Bristol Rovers, for whom he played 33 games last season, scoring one goal – the first in his career - coincidentally against Fleetwood.
Argyle manager Steven Schumacher said: "Lewis is an outstanding young defender who has excellent pedigree having come through the youth set-ups at two Premier League clubs.
"He has also had a number of loan spells in the Football League that have developed him in to the player he is today. We are signing a ball-playing central defender who has his best years ahead of him and has so much room for development.
"Left-sided defenders are also hard to come by, especially of Lewis' quality, and we beat off a number of clubs trying to clinch his services. We are delighted he has chosen his future is with Argyle and look forward to him running out at Home Park in the Championship."
Neil Dewsnip added: “I’d like to welcome Lewis to Argyle. I’m delighted we have managed to secure his services.
"Lewis is a player I worked with in my time as Technical Lead with the England age group sides. I have kept a close eye on his development, and I think he will perfectly suit what we are trying to achieve at Home Park.”
Gibson will be sponsored for both his home and away shirts for the 2023/24 season by E-Lifts.
