Bradford City AFC Academy graduate Heath Richardson has signed a one-year professional contract at the club.
The deal will see the 18-year-old goalkeeper form a part of Mark Hughes’ first-team squad for the 2022/23 season.
Richardson joined the club last year, following a spell at non-league Buxton, and proved instrumental between the sticks as Martin Drury’s under-19s secured the EFL Youth Alliance North East title.
The City academy graduate kept a clean sheet at Valley Parade in May, as Drury’s Young Bantams rounded off their campaign with a 5-0 thrashing of Doncaster Rovers.
He said: “I am delighted to be here and to have signed my first professional contract. I am looking forward to continuing the hard work and being in the first-team environment.
“Pre-season has gone well so far and being able to train with the likes of Harry Lewis and Colin Doyle - and trying to hit their standards - has been a great experience for me.
“The lads were really good when I came in last year, and since then we just really kicked on, won a lot of games and ended up having a successful season in the under-19s side.
“Getting into the habit of success really increases your desire to keep winning, so I think that is something that will help me moving forward into the professional game.
“I cannot wait to keep working hard in training and looking to kick on and hopefully earn something similar again next year.
City’s goalkeeper coach, Colin Doyle, added: “Heath is a talented young goalkeeper, and I have been very impressed by him in the short amount of time I have been working with him throughout pre-season so far.
“He has got a very good attitude and great work ethic in wanting to learn.
“I am looking forward to working with him throughout the season and seeing him develop further.”
Richardson will receive a first-team squad number for the 2022/23 season, and be sponsored by Keybury Fire & Security.