RHYS JORDAN has become Guernsey’s first fully-fledged professional footballer of the modern era.

The 18-year-old GFC star yesterday signed a senior contract with Championship side Bristol City until the end of the season with an option to extend the contract.

Nobody was more delighted than Guernsey FC boss Tony Vance, who has quietly behind the scenes been working to get the former New Zealand U17 World Cup player a professional club and at the same time resisted playing the talented youngster for the Green Lions.

‘I haven’t used him because we have wanted to get him away and, with Zico being injured, he’d have been a direct replacement,’ said the GFC boss.

‘I’ve known from the start of the season that Rhys was keen to get himself away to a UK club and with a few contacts, particularly [Guernsey resident] Steve Lansdown, we’ve pushed him Bristol City’s way.’