Brad Jones has signed for Bradford City, the club have announced.
Jones has put pen to paper on a one-year deal with the Bantams and joins on a free transfer, following his release from Liverpool earlier this summer.
Jones to add experience
With international, Premier League and European experience, the 33-year-old stopper will add plenty to the League One outfit as they look to gain promotion from the third tier this season.
Jones has four caps for Australia and made 27 appearances in his five years with the Reds, five of which came in Europe, whilst he was back-up stopper to Pepe Reina and, most recently, Simon Mignolet, after moving to Anfield in a £2.5 million deal from Middlesbrough in 2010.
Parkinson has been looking to strengthen goalkeeping options
Last season at Bradford City, Sunderland loanee Jordan Pickford was the team's first choice stopper, but his temporary deal expired in March when he turned 21-years-old. Thus, Ben Williams, the club's cup choice 'keeper, stepped in to become their number one until the end of the season.
However, the 32-year-old Manchester United youth product has failed to fill the shoes of the incredibly impressive Pickford, with him lacking the same high quality reflexes and important kicking asset that the youngster provided, and City were unable to secure the Black Cat's services again for the season, with him joining Preston North End on loan instead.
Bradford have signed Joe Cracknell on a five-month deal this summer, the 20-year-old having been released by Hull City and impressed on trial, but he is some way off challenging Williams for that starting berth.
Jussi Jääskeläinen was a key target for the Bantams too, even playing in a pre-season friendly for them against Burnley, but manager Phil Parkinson opted not to offer the 40-year-old a deal, with him then joining League One rivals Wigan Athletic instead.
Yet, in Jones, Parkinson now has an experienced goalkeeper to fight for the first choice role with Williams, whilst also having Cracknell as a back-up if injuries or suspensions occur.