The 2025–26 season is the 123rd season in the history of Bradford City Association Football Club and their first season back in League One since the 2018–19 season following their promotion from League Two in the preceding season. In addition to the domestic league, the club also participated in the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, and the EFL Trophy.
In the cups, Bradford City made it furthest in the EFL Cup, where they were knocked out by Premier League club Newcastle United in the third round. In the league, Bradford City qualified for the play-offs after securing a fourth place finish on the final match-day, having been in a play-off or automatic promotion spot at the end of all but one match day throughout the season. Bradford City were drawn against fifth place Bolton Wanderers, and lost 2–0 on aggregate.
Squad
Current squad
NationalityNamePosition(s)Date of birth (age)Previous clubNotesGoalkeepers1Sam WalkerGK Charlton Athletic—25Joe HiltonGK Blackburn Rovers—Defenders3Ibou TourayLB Stockport County—4Joe WrightCB Kilmarnock—5Neill ByrneCB Stockport County—7Josh NeufvilleRB, RW AFC Wimbledon—15Aden BaldwinCB Notts County—18Ciarán KellyCB Bohemians—26Curtis TiltCB Salford City—28Matthew PenningtonCB Blackpool—33Harrison AshbyRB Newcastle Unitedon loanMidfielders6Max PowerCM, RB AGFcaptain8Lee EvansCM Blackpool—10Antoni SarcevicCM, AM Stockport County—16Alex PattisonAM Harrogate Town—17Tyreik WrightLM Plymouth Argyle—21Jenson MetcalfeCM Everton—22Nick PowellAM Stockport County—23Bobby PointonCMNone—30Joe WhiteAM Newcastle Unitedon loan32George LapslieAM Gillingham—40Louie SibleyCM Oxford Unitedon loanForwards11Stephen HumphrysCF Barnsley—14Paul MullinCF Wrexhamon loan19Kayden JacksonST Derby County—24Will SwanCF Crawley Town—27Ethan WheatleyST Manchester Unitedon loan
Out on loan NationalityNamePosition(s)Date of birth (age)Current clubNotes9Andy CookST Grimsby TownReturns June 202629Harry IbbitsonCF ChorleyReturns June 202612Clarke OduorCM, LM Grimsby TownReturns June 202635George GoodmanCB GuiseleyReturns January 202631Zac HadiGK ClitheroeReturns February 2026
Staff ExecutiveCoaching staff
Pre-season and friendlies On 13 June, Bradford City announced their pre-season schedule, with friendlies against FC United of Manchester, Chorley, Pickering Town, Ried II, Campion, Middlesbrough, Oldham Athletic and Bradford (Park Avenue) along with a training camp in Obertraun.Option of a further year
Competitions
League One
League table
Results summary
Results by round
Matches On 26 June, the League One fixtures were announced, with Bradford hosting Wycombe Wanderers on the opening weekend.
Play-offs
On the final match day of the regular season, Bradford City defeated Exeter City 2–1 to secure a fourth place finish and a play-offs berth. As a result, Bradford City were drawn against fifth place Bolton Wanderers, who were third going into the match day, but lost 3–2 to Luton Town to drop down to fifth place behind Bradford City. Bradford City ultimately lost 2–0 on aggregate to Bolton Wanderers, conceding once both home and away.
FA Cup
Bradford were drawn away to Cheltenham Town in the first round, whom eliminated them.
EFL Cup
Bradford were drawn away to Blackburn Rovers in the first round, to Stoke City in the second round, and to the title holders, Newcastle United, in the third round. Bradford were eliminated by Newcastle United.
EFL Trophy
Bradford were drawn against Doncaster Rovers, Grimsby Town and Everton U21 in the group stage. After finishing second in the group, City were drawn away to Bolton Wanderers in the round of 32, who eliminated them.
Squad statistics
Appearances
Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances after the + symbol where applicable.
! colspan=18 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center|Goalkeepers
! colspan=18 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center|Defenders
! colspan=18 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center|Midfielders
! colspan=18 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center|Forwards
|colspan="14"|Player(s) who featured but departed the club permanently or on loan during the season:
Player movement
Transfers in/loans in NameTransferred fromFee/notesDateRef.24 Will SwanFW Crawley TownUndisclosed fee; two-year contract28 June 202511 Stephen HumphrysFW BarnsleySigned on a free on 20 June 2025; two-year contract1 July 20257 Josh NeufvilleDF AFC WimbledonSigned on a free on 11 June 2025; three-year contract28 Matthew PenningtonDF BlackpoolSigned on a free on 25 June 2025; two-year contract6 Max PowerMF AGFSigned on a free on 16 May 2025; two-year contract26 Curtis TiltDF Salford CitySigned on a free on 4 June 2025; two-year contract3 Ibou TourayDF Stockport CountySigned on a free on 20 June 2025; two-year contract4 Joe WrightDF KilmarnockSigned on a free on 6 June 2025; two-year contract21 Jenson MetcalfeMF EvertonUndisclosed fee; three-year contract24 July 202522 Nick PowellMF Stockport CountySigned on a free; contract details not disclosed18 August 202514 Tom McIntyreDF PortsmouthSeason-long loan from Portsmouth; terminated on 14 January1 September 2025 40 Louie Sibley MF Oxford United Half-season loan from Oxford United 2 January 2026 30 Joe WhiteMF Newcastle UnitedHalf-season loan from Newcastle United13 January 202633 Harrison AshbyDF Newcastle UnitedHalf-season loan from Newcastle United 14 Paul Mullin FW Wrexham Half-season loan from Wrexham 30 January 2026 19 Kayden Jackson FW Derby County Undisclosed fee; two-and-a-half-year contract 8 Lee Evans MF Blackpool Undisclosed fee; deal until the end of the season 2 February 2026 27 Ethan Wheatley FW Manchester United Half-season loan from Manchester United
Transfers/loans out NameTransferred/loaned toFee/notesDateRef.6 Richard SmallwoodMF Tranmere RoversContract expired; signed with Tranmere Rovers on 14 July 20251 July 20257 Jamie WalkerMF Grimsby TownContract expired; signed with Grimsby Town on 25 June 202513 Colin DoyleGKRetiredContinued role as goalkeeping coach15 Sam StubbsDF Shrewsbury TownContract expired; signed with Shrewsbury Town on 25 June 202519 Vadaine OliverFW Hartlepool UnitedContract expired; signed with Hartlepool United on 11 September 202520 Paul HuntingtonDFRetiredContract expired; retired22 Callum JohnsonDF GatesheadContract expired; signed with Gateshead on 7 July 202530 Romoney CrichlowDF BarnetContract expired; signed with Barnet on 23 June 202539 Gabriel WadsworthMF Eccleshill UnitedContract expired; signed with Eccleshill United on 18 August 202529 Harry IbbitsonFW ChorleySeason-long loan to Chorley7 August 2025 12 Clarke Oduor MF Grimsby Town Season-long loan to Grimsby Town 26 August 2025 14 Tyler Smith FW Rochdale Contract terminated by mutual consent; signed with Rochdale on 3 October 2025 1 September 2025 33 Adam Wilson FW The New Saints Contract terminated by mutual consent; signed with TNS on 19 September 2025 35 George Goodman DF Guiseley Three-month loan to Guiseley 17 October 2025 31 Zac HadiGK ClitheroeThree-month loan to Clitheroe7 November 2025 16 Alex Pattison MF Walsall Undisclosed fee 7 January 2026 9 Andy CookFW Grimsby TownEnd-of-season loan12 January 2026 2 Brad Halliday DF Dundee Contract terminated by mutual consent; signed with Dundee on 14 January 2026 14 January 2026 19 Lewis RichardsDF Crawley TownUndisclosed fee16 January 2026 5 Neill Byrne DF Doncaster Rovers End-of-season loan 26 January 2026 8 Calum Kavanagh FW Oldham Athletic Undisclosed fee 1 February 2026 20 Tommy Leigh MF Bristol Rovers End-of-season loan 2 February 2026
New contracts DatePos.PlayerContract untilRef.9 June 2025GK Sam Walker30 June 202724 June 2025DF Ciarán Kelly30 June 202611 July 2025DF Lewis Richards7 August 2025MF Bobby Pointon30 June 20277 November 2025 GK Zac Hadi 30 June 2027 FW Harry Ibbitson
References