Matthew Bates Joins Bradford City

Bradford City have signed former Middlesbrough captain Matthew Bates on a three-month deal. Manager Phil Parkinson moved for the 26-year-old defender after Andrew Davies was ruled out for three to four months following knee surgery.

Bates, a free agent after he was released by Bristol City at the end of last season, has agreed a three-month deal at Valley Parade.

He came through the academy at Middlesbrough, his hometown club and starred in Middlesbrough’s FA Youth Cup winning side in 2003–04, he went on to make his first team debut on 6 December 2004, coming on in injury time to replace Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in a 3–2 win over Manchester City.

After a successful loan spell with Darlington, he made a breakthrough at Boro, making 28 appearances and played alongside former manager Gareth Southgate in central defence, but a succession of knee injuries restricted him just 126 appearances over an eight-year period. He has also previously played on loan for Ipswich Town and Norwich City.