CENTRE half Niall Canavan has become City’s third signing of the window after joining from Plymouth for an undisclosed fee.

The experienced 29-year-old, who will wear the number five shirt vacated by Ben Richards-Everton, has signed on an 18-month deal.

Canavan has made 15 appearances for League One Argyle this season and 92 in all since joining them in 2018 – winning promotion last year.

He previously played 173 games for Scunthorpe and had a two-year spell with Rochdale.

The Leeds-born 6ft 4in defender was in the City academy up to the age of 12 and went to St Mary’s School in Menston.

Canavan 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 ball boy.

“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 has 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.”