Bradford boss excited by transfer deal for Wolves defender
Wolverhampton Wanderers transfer news from BirminghamLive as Lewis Richards makes the move to Bradford City
Wolves defender Lewis Richards has joined Bradford City on a permanent deal.
The 19-year-old has already tasted first team football having had two spells on loan with Harrogate Town. He returns to League Two to join Mark Hughes’ Bantams for an undisclosed fee, signing a two-year deal.
Hughes told his club website: “We are delighted to be welcoming Lewis to the club as someone we have been tracking for a long time. He is a strong defender in who we have identified an ability to fit into our system and style of play, with his dynamism and the physical and technical boxes he ticks. Having trained with us today, we are excited to be working with him and pleased to have a player of his calibre with us on a permanent basis.”
Richards joined Wolves from Brentford when he was 15 and was academy young player of the year in 2019. He has been capped by the Republic of Ireland under-19s side. On joining Bradford, he said: “I could not say no to this opportunity and I’m grateful to be spending at least the next two years here. It is a massive club, and as soon as I heard of the interest here, I wanted to come.
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“I like to link up play and defend as well. I will get up and down and put crosses in, and just want to do well for the team. I know the ambitions of the club and want to get promoted. I want to be a part of a team full of winners. I am going to get my head down in training and hopefully be successful at this club. I am looking forward to what lies ahead.”
Jon Hunter-Barrett, academy manager for football at Wolves, said: “Lewis has been a valued member of the Wolves Academy since joining us at the age of 15. We have all been pleased with his attitude on and off the pitch – he always applied himself correctly and represented the club in the right way.
“He’s continually developed as a player and helped those around him at the same time. Now is the right time for him to challenge himself in a different environment and find a new home, and we wish him all the best for the future.”