Bradford City is delighted to welcome experienced defender Niall Canavan as the club’s third January signing - for an undisclosed fee.
The 29-year-old has put pen to paper on an 18-month deal from Sky Bet League One side Plymouth Argyle, keeping him at the Utilita Energy Stadium until at least the end of the 2021/22 campaign.
Standing at 6ft 4ins, Canavan began his career at Scunthorpe United before spending two years at Rochdale, prior to joining the Pilgrims - where he achieved promotion from Sky Bet League Two last season.
The Leeds-born centre-back, who is capped by Republic of Ireland at under-21 level, said: “I am delighted to be here. I have always wanted to play for this club and it is a great chance for me to come home.
“I grew up watching Bradford City and have always had that ambition to be one of the lads who runs out at Valley Parade. I was in the academy as a young lad and used to come here a lot as a ballboy.
“As soon as the call came in, I was very eager to get the deal done and, thankfully, we have been able to get everything sorted. This is a brilliant club and I am looking forward to pushing on.”
City’s joint-interim bosses, Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars, said: “Having first been identified by Lee Turnbull, Niall was a player we were very keen to bring to Bradford City, so are delighted to have got the deal done.
“His experience at this level and above is there for all to see, and the fact he has left a club from a higher division speaks volumes of how much he is bought in to what we want to achieve.
“He joins the team he grew up supporting and carries characteristics which typify what this club stands for.
“We are extremely confident in what we know he can bring to this side, and are looking forward to seeing what he can do in claret and amber.”
Canavan will wear the No.5 shirt for the Bantams. His signing is subject to the relevant EFL and FA clearances.