Exclusive: Bradford City agree to sign Man United’s Ethan Wheatley
Bradford City have reached an agreement with Manchester United over a loan deal for Ethan Wheatley, sources have told Football Insider.
The striker, 19, spent the first half of the season on loan at Northampton Town before he was recalled by his parent club on Monday, and they are now set to sanction a loan move further up the League One table until the end of the season.
Football Insider revealed earlier this week that Bradford had agreed a deal to sign Joe White on loan from Newcastle, and with that transfer now confirmed, they look set to add another young star to their ranks.
Wheatley has notched three goals and one assist for Northampton so far this term, and Bradford are now about to become the beneficiaries of his recall from Sixfields.
Ethan Wheatley to face strong competition at Valley Parade
Wheatley is a highly-rated talent at Manchester United, and they will be hoping that he can take his game to the next level as part of a team who are pushing at the top of the third tier.
Graham Alexander’s side have the prospect of Championship football in their sights ahead of the second half of the campaign, as they are currently third in League One and pushing to seal back-to-back promotions.
Wheatley’s imminent switch to Valley Parade will be the highest that he has featured in the pyramid across his recent loan spells, after a stint with Walsall in League Two last term, and then Northampton this time around.
However, the 19-year-old is set to be faced with some strong competition at Bradford, with the duo of Will Swan and Stephen Humphrys both hugely experienced frontmen in the EFL.
Calum Kavanagh has also been out of favour for the Bantams, despite notching 14 league goal involvements on their way to promotion last term.
With that in mind, Wheatley’s latest loan spell with surely provide a stern test for him, and United will be hoping that it can help to push him to the next level.
Bradford City’s League One title rivals set to strengthen
Football Insider revealed back in August that Hearts were chasing Everton’s Harry Tyrer, and while the goalkeeper’s departure from the Merseysiders never came to fruition on that occasion, he is in line for a move away once again in January.
The gloveman is now in advanced talks to leave Everton and join Cardiff City, according to Toffees insider The Bobble on X.
Tyrer spent the 2024-25 campaign on loan at Blackpool, who he helped to a top-half finish in the third tier, and he is now destined to strengthen the current League One table-toppers.
News of his imminent signing is sure to have alerted Bradford, who currently sit six points behind the Bluebirds, and will be dreaming of chasing them down over the coming months.
Alexander’s men are about to see one of their title rivals strengthen their hand, but they also look set to have another addition of their own on the way.