Bradford City have signed Devante Cole, the club have confirmed.

Cole makes a permanent switch from Manchester City to sign a two-year deal with the Bantams, with the option of a third year.

The deal is understood, by local paper the Telegraph and Argus, to have been completed on a free transfer, despite rumours suggesting Bradford paid £600,000 for his services, however, the Citizens have agreed a compensation package with the League One outfit that will come in a future sell-on clause.

Manager thrilled with signing

Speaking about Cole's arrival, Bradford manager Phil Parkinson expressed his delight with the signing, saying that it's a "good" one for the club and one that they are "pleased" with.

Parkinson believes that the 20-year-old striker - son of former-Manchester United star Andy Cole - gives him "further options in the squad," whilst he brings "good pace" to the attack, something which the manager believes that a team "can never have enough of."

The ex-Citizen spent time on loan with Barnsley and Milton Keynes Dons last season, both in the third tier, scoring 10 goals during those spells, and now Bradford are excited about being "the next part" of the player's "development."

Bantams looking to improve on toothless, and winless, start to the new season

Despite being one of the favourites for promotion coming into the new campaign, Bradford are yet to register a win in 2015-16.

Defeat on the opening weekend at Swindon Town, one point from successive home games against Shrewsbury Town and Gillingham, plus an early League Cup exit at the hands of League Two side York City, means that a goalless draw away to one of Cole's former clubs, and one of the Bantams' local rivals, Barnsley at the weekend is the highlight of their season so far.

With talisman Billy Clarke ruled out for three months with a knee injury, the team are in need of some inspiration going forward to improve this lacklustre start, with an inability to take chances proving to be their downfall thus far, despite the defence needing some work too.

Parkinson will hope that Cole provides this required boost, looking for the speedy and dynamic forward to form a formidable partnership with target man and local hero James Hanson, who has struggled without a lively partner to pick up the second balls from his winning headers.

Cole could make his debut this weekend, wearing the number 44 shirt, as Bradford welcome Port Vale to Valley Parade on Saturday afternoon.

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About the author
Ameé Ruszkai
Head of the Sunderland, Swansea City and women football sections at VAVEL UK. Email: [email protected]