REECE Staunton has left Valley Parade to join Bradford (Park Avenue) for an undisclosed fee.

The 20-year-old returns to Horsfall Stadium for a third time after two previous loan spells with Mark Bower’s men.

Staunton set a City club record when Stuart McCall gave him his debut in November 2017 as a substitute against Rotherham in the Football League Trophy, becoming their youngest ever player to appear in the first team at the age of 15 years and 332 days.

He went on to make 21 senior appearances, although only once in the league last season when he was subbed before half-time with a hamstring injury at Oldham.

Staunton still had two more seasons to run on the four-year contract he signed in September 2020.

Mark Hughes had made it clear that the young players in the squad would not be involved in the short term and encouraged them to look elsewhere for game time.

Finn Cousin-Dawson joined Spennymoor Town on loan, with City looking to land Kian Scales a similar temporary move.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Reece Staunton set a record as City's youngest ever player in 2017Reece Staunton set a record as City's youngest ever player in 2017

It is understood there was also interest from the Scottish Championship to take Staunton on loan. This was City’s preferred move to continue his development but the player turned it down.

Asked recently about the younger pros, Hughes said: “They need to be open to any opportunity. It might be elsewhere, up north or across the water.

“It’s about looking at those opportunities and seeing how it would help them in terms of their development.”

Staunton made a trial appearance with Halifax and had been offered to other National League clubs.

But he has decided to make the move across the City to Avenue and he has been registered in time for tomorrow’s game at Kettering.