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Leicester City target Dom Ballard has joined Championship side Bristol City from Leyton Orient. The Foxes were linked with the 21-year-old throughout the summer after his excellent 2025/26 season. Ballard scored 23 League One goals for Orient, who dodged relegation by just three points. His goal tally saw him win the Golden Boot, Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season awards. He was also included in the division's Team of the Season. Ballard was the subject of a failed proposal by Bristol last month and speculation linking City with the former Southampton striker had gathered pace after Russell Martin confirmed he wanted to strengthen his frontline. However, Ballard has now signed a four-year deal with the Robins and links up with Lorent Tolaj, another striker from League One that had been on Leicester's radar. "I am really excited to get going and join a big club like Bristol City," the 21-year-old told City's media team when asked about his move to the West Country. "It is a club where I feel like I can really develop. FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK! All the latest Leicester City news on LeicestershireLive’s Leicester City Facebook page! Get LeicestershireLIVE Premium now for just £1 HERE. You can also join our WhatsApp Community by clicking HERE "I spoke to the gaffer, and we are aligned on what he wants me to do, so there are a lot of positives. Last year was unbelievable. I knew I was capable, but to go out there and do it was big for me - especially as it was my third year in League One, so I felt like it was time for me to push on. "I want to be a Premier League player, and the club wants to be a Premier League team, so the drive is there to do that." Ballard's move to Ashton Gate leaves Leicester looking elsewhere in their search for a new striker. Former Luton Town forward Elijah Adebayo has been loosely linked with the Foxes in recent weeks. The 27-year-old has spent the summer on trial at Bristol City, featuring in friendlies against Stockport County, Swindon Town, Newcastle United and Exeter City. The appearances come after a season in which he made just two appearances for Luton, after recovering from an ACL injury in mid-March. However, he was absent from Bristol City's open training session on Monday, potentially leaving his future up in the air. "He's obviously had a huge, big injury and he's been trialling with us," the City boss explained. "It is open, because everybody has seen it now. It's in that same situation, so we'll keep looking at that as we need to. "That's something that suits us and suits him at the same point. It's helping him, and it's helping us, but one [thing] I will say is that he's a great guy." LeicestershireLive understands that, as it stands, Adebayo isn't a player City have pursued a move for yet. That could change as the window goes on.