Tony McMahon has joined Bradford City, the club have confirmed.
McMahon signs a two-year deal and joins for free from Blackpool after his contract expired with the Seasiders. He joined the Bantams on loan in March of this year until the end of the season and, despite it being a short spell, impressed the club enough to earn a permanent deal this summer.
A very versatile player, the 29-year-old will offer depth and quality to the squad, able to play anywhere across the back line or in midfield. Though his primary role is probably that of a right-back, McMahon is unlikely to operate here as it is a position nailed down by captain Stephen Darby.
Plenty of change at Valley Parade
Centre-back or central midfield are his best chances of regular action, with City now having just one of the former following Andrew Davies' departure, and two of the latter with both Jason Kennedy and Matty Dolan having also left this summer, albeit both were out-of-favour and always likely to be upgraded in this transfer window.
McMahon also played as a right-midfielder during his time at Valley Parade last season, though he is more of a standard, traditional wide player than a more modern winger. In Filipe Morais, City have one of the latter, and thus their new signing can offer a different dimension on the flanks and will certainly be more effective at tracking back given his ability to play in defence.
Speaking to the club's website, the player said that he wants to "repay" the "faith" Phil Parkinson, the Bradford City manager, has put in him for the next two years.
McMahon spoke of the "size of [the] club, the fanbase" and "the number of season tickets sold" - City having surpassed the 17,000 mark earlier this week, an incredible achievement for a League One side - as influential factors in his return.
He said that he wants to "be part of something special" at the club and admitted that the "great sets of lads," as well as the fact that they "and the staff all stick together," helped him decide "to come back to the club" too.
Parkinson was full of praise for McMahon as well, calling him "a very good professional and a leader." The manager is excited about his versatility helping the team, as it "will give [them] a number of different options."
The 29-year-old has plied his trade at a variety of clubs in the Football League, including at two of City's Yorkshire rivals in both Sheffield sides. He started his career at Middlesbrough when they were in the Premier League though, and made 30 appearances for them in the top flight.
Yet, these were as a youngster, so when he really established himself in the side, they were a Championship club. Loan spells at Blackpool and Sheffield Wednesday allowed him to stake a claim for a place at Boro, and after impressing in both, he would go on to rack up an impressive tally of 137 appearances for them before leaving in 2012.
He joined Sheffield United from there, spending just less than two seasons at Bramall Lane before a permanent switch to Blackpool following another short loan spell.
McMahon becomes City's third signing of the week, following the arrivals of striker Steve Davies and winger Josh Morris.