The Bantams have moved to strengthen their defensive ranks ahead of the closure of the summer transfer window by securing a loan deal for Northern Ireland international and Bury defender Adam Thompson.
Thompson has put pen to paper on a loan contract which will keep him at the Northern Commercials Stadium for the remainder of the 2017/2018 campaign.
The highly-rated centre half was a regular in the Southend United side that narrowly missed out on a place in the League One Play-Offs last season.
After leaving Southend in the summer, Thompson chose to join Bury after a number of clubs, including ones from a higher level, showed an interest in the defender.
The 24 year-old is currently away with Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland squad preparing for their forthcoming qualifiers with San Marino and Czech Republic.
He has also represented Northern Ireland at under 17’s, 18’s and 21’s earlier in his career.
Bantams boss Stuart McCall said: “He is a strong and committed centre half, and he has great experience at this level.
“Centre half is clearly a position where we have been looking to strengthen, so we are delighted to have him on board.
“He was on our radar over the summer but the finances Bury were offering gave them the edge.
“It hasn’t quite worked out for him at Bury in the opening couple of months though, and it came out of the blue that he was available.
“Greg (Abbott) worked quickly to get this one over the line while he is training in Manchester with Northern Ireland.
“I believe he is actually rooming with Shay McCartan at the moment which is a nice coincidence.
“He can’t wait to get started with us.”
Thompson started his career at Watford's youth academy. He made his professional debut for the Club in 2010, with his senior international debut for Northern Ireland coming the following year.
In the summer of 2011, Thompson signed a new contract with Watford, to keep him at the Club until 2014.
After a series of loan spells at Brentford, Wycombe Wanderers, and Barnet, defender Thompson joined Southend United on loan on August 9th 2013 and made his debut a day later against Hartlepool United.
After a successful loan spell, the club signed Adam on an 18-month contract.
Thompson was a regular feature in Southend United's back-line, making over 100 appearances, scoring three goals – one of which (Blackpool, November 2015) was nominated for the Club’s Goal of the Season award for 2015/16.