Bradford City have completed the signing of Matty Foulds following a successful trial period after cancelling his contract with Italian Serie C side Como 1907.
The 22-year-old, who was named in LFE’s ‘The 11’ in October 2015, began his career in the Bantams’ academy and has agreed a deal to return until the end of the current season.
Defender Foulds spent his apprenticeship at Bury, where he drew comparisons with Liverpool legend Alan Hansen from former Under-18s Manager Ryan Kidd, while ex-first team boss David Flitcroft likened the youngster to Manchester City’s John Stones.
Having featured twice for the Shakers, Everton secured his services for a significant fee in November 2015. In four years at Goodison Park, he won the Premier League 2 twice and the Premier League Cup at Under-23 level, before being released last summer.
Despite penning a two-year deal with Como in October, Foulds has decided to go back to his boyhood club.
He told Bradford’s website: “I am over the moon to be joining such a big club, which I have supported all my life.
“Since leaving as a youngster, I always had dreams of coming back after watching the likes of Nahki Wells and James Hanson scoring goals – from the stands – so it is a bit of a dream come true for me.
“The standard in training over the week or so I have been here has been top notch and I have really enjoyed myself so far. The lads have welcomed me with open arms and been brilliant, so I have settled in straight away.
“It is only initially until the end of the season, but I am looking forward to showing what I can do and hopefully helping get this club where it needs to be.”
Joint-interim bosses, Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars, added: “We have had Matty in for the past week or so and been really impressed by what we have seen.
“His attitude and application has been first class, and he has a lot of ability with potential to get much better – while still at a young age. He took it upon himself to leave Como and come on trial with us, which gives a good measure of how desperate he was to join.
“With him being born and raised in Bradford, we have kept tabs on him for quite some time, and watched a lot of him during his four years at Everton – where he developed well.
“He is determined to succeed at Bradford City, so we are really looking forward to seeing him in action.”
