Bradford City & Huddersfield Town transfer road block emerges amid Nahki Wells return pursuits | OneFootball

Wells has outlined his stance to remain in the Championship

Nahki Wells has outlined his ambition to remain a Championship player heading into the 2025/26 campaign following his departure from Bristol City.

That is according to a fresh update from Alan Nixon via Patreon, with the Bermudan recently the subject of potential reunion talk at two of his former clubs, Bradford City and Huddersfield Town, as the two West Yorkshire sides prepare to renew their on-pitch rivalry in League One this upcoming season following the Bantams' dramatic promotion from League Two.

Wells has become an established figure in the second tier over the past decade, making the step-up to the division with a controversial switch from Valley Parade to the John Smith's Stadium back in January 2014, before featuring for Burnley in the Premier League ahead of his recently concluded five-and-a-half year spell at Ashton Gate, having signed for the Robins under Lee Johnson back in January 2020.

Nahki Wells hopes to remain a Championship player ahead of upcoming 2025/26 campaign

During his lengthy stint in the West Country, City endured mixed fortunes, often finishing as a solid, if not spectacular mid-table side under four different managers/head coaches, with the latter of those - Liam Manning - also leaving BS3 in the off-season, penning a three-year deal to become boss at his hometown club, Norwich City.

Wells netted 48 goals and registered a further 19 assists during 237 appearances for the Reds, before it was confirmed last week that the 35-year-old would depart the club following the expiration of his contract, which officially makes him a free agent from July 1st.

He made 39 appearances in the second tier last season, hitting double figures, with the last of those goals coming in a 2-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion on April 8th as Manning's side secured a play-off spot, before being on the receiving end of a 6-0 aggregate scoreline by Sheffield United.

Swiftly after his exit, speculation was already rife that the striker would make a return to Bradford, 11 years after departing for their arch rivals. However, those links were also quickly dismissed by Wells in an interview with Bermudan publication, the Royal Gazette.

“There’s absolutely no truth in that,” he said.

Wells was a popular figure during his previous stint with the Bantams, scoring 53 goals in just 112 appearances, with his most memorable involvement coming in the 2012/13 season as Phil Parkinson's side reached the EFL Cup final and returned to Wembley in the League Two play-off final, with the frontman scoring his 26th goal of the campaign under the North London arch.

However, the chances of him returning to City or Huddersfield at this present moment are extremely slim, as outlined by Nixon's fresh update, although no Championship clubs have been named as interested parties despite Wells' desire to continue performing at the highest level possible.

The experienced forward has played 424 games in the division thus far, scoring 111 times for Huddersfield, QPR and Bristol City combined.

Bradford City and Huddersfield Town's ambition showcased with hopeful Nahki Wells swoops

Both Yorkshire sides have shown strong intent in the early stages of the summer window, with many believing Lee Grant's side, in particular, can mount a sustained promotion bid after ending last season in dismal fashion following the dismissal of Michael Duff in March.

Town already have the likes of Joe Taylor and Dion Charles to call upon, and were recently linked with an ambitious swoop for Stoke City striker Nathan Lowe, although it has since been claimed that the former Walsall loanee will not be leaving the Bet365 Stadium.

Bradford have also made a plethora of strong signings as they look to consolidate in the third tier for the first time since 2019, with the recent acquisition of Stephen Humphrys from Barnsley taking Graham Alexander's incomings count to seven thus far.

Whilst a move for Wells would have had strong sentiment attached to a deal for either club, it is clear that the striker has no plans to drop into League One for the first time since 2014, especially as a significant pay cut based on his ESTIMATED wage figures at Ashton Gate, which were said to be in the region of £27,000 per week.