ANTHONY O'Connor wants to be 'part of something special' after insisting his move to Valley Parade from Aberdeen is not a step down.

The 25-year-old central defender, who yesterday signed a three-year contract with the Bantams, has been part of the Dons team who reached two cup finals and earned two successive runners-up spots in the top flight north of the border.

O'Connor, who turned down a new deal at Pittodrie having played over 70 games for them, is swapping the Scottish Premiership and another chance in Europe for League One.

But he believes his new club – who were strongly recommended to him by fellow Irishman and former Bantam Carl McHugh – are punching below their weight and wants to help them climb a level.

He said: "I don’t see this as a step down. Some people might do but it is a massive club that I think should be in the Championship.

"It is something that excites me and I want to be a part of something special.

"It was a very successful spell at Aberdeen. It’s hard when you are trying to catch Celtic when the finances are so much more and the size of the fan base.

"It’s always hard to catch them but in my first season we finished second and got to two cup finals, which Celtic beat us in when they won the treble.

"Last season we also finished second behind them by nine points and we cut the gap by quite a bit.

"It was two successful seasons but coming to Bradford really excites me.

"When you look round and see the size of the stadium and the fan base of the club – it's something I really want to be part of and I'm glad that I’ve come and been able to get the deal over the line."

With City set to boast one of the highest average attendances again next season, the former Blackburn Rovers youth has gained plenty of experience in Scotland playing in front of big crowds.

He said: "I've played at Celtic Park, Ibrox and Hampden when there has been 50-60,000 there.

"Also at Aberdeen they get 15-16,000 every week and if we played Celtic or Rangers, or Hibs and Hearts, there is 20,000 at the game, so that will help me coming to Bradford.

"But it doesn’t matter how many are watching, I just play my own game and tend to block the crowd out.

"I’m just glad to be here. I can’t wait to get out at Valley Parade and show everyone what I can do."

Asked what his key strengths are, O'Connor said: "I've a bit of everything.

"I'm quite aggressive. I like to pass the ball out from the back if I can but in League One you don’t always get chance to do that so first and foremost I am a defender.

"My job is to defend so I like to head the ball, tackle, block shots and bark out orders to my team-mates – that’s what you’ve got to do in my position. But don’t get me wrong, if I get the chance to pass the ball out I’m going to do it."

O'Connor, who helped Burton to promotion from League One in 2015-16, becomes the club's fourth summer signing despite the continuing long wait for a new head coach.

The Bantams have already snapped up Joe Riley, Josh Wright and Thomas Isherwood.

And former Irish under-21 international O'Connor insisted not knowing the identity of the new boss was not a issue for him. 

He said: "When I spoke to the chairman (Edin Rahic) and Greg Abbott they really sold the club to me – their vision for the club and what they want to achieve. They are very ambitious people similar to myself.

"Whoever gets the job I’m sure they will work well with Greg and the chairman and the players.

"If we can all plug together and go in the same direction I am sure we can achieve something special."