According to the latest update from Alan Nixon on Patreon, the Bermudian striker has recently been linked with potential reunions at two of his former clubs, Bradford City and Huddersfield Town. The speculation comes as both West Yorkshire rivals prepare to face each other in League One next season, following Bradford’s dramatic promotion from League Two.
Nahki Wells has been a well-known figure in the Championship for over a decade, having first moved up to the division in January 2014 with a controversial switch from Bradford’s Valley Parade to Huddersfield’s John Smith’s Stadium. He later featured in the Premier League with Burnley before joining Bristol City in January 2020 under Lee Johnson, where he spent the past five and a half years.
During his time in Bristol, the Robins endured mixed fortunes, regularly finishing mid-table under four different managers. The last of those, Liam Manning, departed this summer to take charge of Norwich City. Wells made 237 appearances for City, scoring 48 goals and supplying 19 assists, before leaving at the end of his contract this summer. The 35-year-old is now a free agent as of July 1st.
Last season, Wells featured 39 times in the Championship, reaching double figures in goals, his final strike coming in a 2-1 win against West Brom on April 8th. That victory helped Bristol City secure a play-off place, though their campaign ended with a heavy 6-0 aggregate defeat to Sheffield United.
Speculation about a return to Bradford surfaced almost immediately after his departure, 11 years after he left for Huddersfield. However, Wells quickly dismissed the rumours in an interview with Bermuda’s Royal Gazette, insisting there was “absolutely no truth” in the talk.
The striker remains fondly remembered at Valley Parade, where he scored 53 goals in 112 matches, most notably during the 2012/13 season when Phil Parkinson’s side reached the EFL Cup final and won promotion via the League Two play-offs. Yet, Nixon’s update suggests there is little chance of a return to either Bradford or Huddersfield right now, despite Wells’ wish to continue competing at the highest level possible. To date, he has racked up 424 Championship appearances, netting 111 goals across spells with Huddersfield, QPR, and Bristol City.
Both Bradford and Huddersfield have been ambitious in the early stages of the transfer window. Many expect Lee Grant’s Huddersfield side to mount a promotion push after last season’s disappointing end under Michael Duff. They already boast strikers such as Joe Taylor and Dion Charles and were recently linked with Stoke City’s Nathan Lowe, though reports now suggest the forward will not be leaving the Potters.
Bradford, meanwhile, have been busy in the market too, with new boss Graham Alexander making seven signings so far, including Barnsley forward Stephen Humphrys.
While a Wells reunion would have carried plenty of sentimental value, the financial realities make it unlikely. Dropping into League One would mean a huge wage cut from his reported £27,000-per-week earnings at Ashton Gate — something Wells appears unwilling to accept.
