Bradford City should try and sign departing Derby County star - Here's why | OneFootball

Bradford City should make a move for experienced forward Tom Barkhuizen, who has been released by Derby County following his contract expiring.

Having won promotion from League Two after five previous years of struggle, Bradford City should consider making a move for experienced forward Tom Barkhuizen, who has been released by Derby County following his contract expiring.

The 31-year-old experienced winger could provide Graham Alexander with proven second - and third-tier - quality, which could help address the Bantams' current attacking concerns, with Andy Cook a long-term injury problem and Jamie Walker no longer in BD8 after his contract came to an end.

Derby County confirmed their retained list on Friday morning, with Barkhuizen part of eight players leaving Pride Park following the Rams' succesful bid at survival in the Championship.

Despite finding game time hard to come by this season, Barkhuizen's stint in League One with Derby previously makes him an attractive option for a club needing that extra quality in the form of Bradford.

Tom Barkhuizen could be the perfect coup for Graham Alexander's Bradford City

Having made 22 appearances in all competitions this past season for Derby, the majority from the subs bench, Barkhuizen will exit Pride Park after three years as a Ram.

During County's promotion campaign in the 2023/24 League One season under Paul Warne, Barkhuizen managed to get involved in contributing 12 goals - scoring and assisting the same number over the course of the campaign.

Whilst he was only a bit-part player for Derby in 2024-25, he was a useful squad player to call upon, but you'd imagine Barkhuizen's short-term future will be in League One, which is where Bradford come into the equation.

The Bantams are facing somewhat of an attacking dilemma heading into the summer window.

Andy Cook is still recovering from his ACL injury sustained at Barrow on New Years Day, although Barkhuizen isn't a natural centre-forward, despite playing there numerous times back at Preston North End, whilst attacking midfielder Jamie Walker leaving has worsened any little depth the West Yorkshire club did have.

With proven experience getting out of the third tier - and being available on a free - this is a significant opportunity for Bradford City to add some high-end EFL experience to their ranks.

When he has played in the Championship this season, Barkhuizen has been direct, often being a willing runner to take on defenders as Derby searched for a way back into a game late on.

2.56 dribbles per 90 minutes makes you wonder what that number would be if he had regular, consistent game time - something he could get at City.

There's still value to be found in Tom Barkhuizen - Bradford City and Graham Alexander should take advantage

In his recent career at Derby and PNE, Barkhuizen has showed he is equally adept at playing on both the right as a more direct winger, but also on the left as he can cut in, create chances and take shots.

And although Graham Alexander does not operate with out-and-out wingers, Barkhuizen could be effective in the dual number 10 role behind the lone centre-forward that the ex-Scotland manager likes to deploy for the Bantams, but he can also provide the versatility as a number nine too if a two-striker system is adopted.

31 is not exactly the greatest age for a forward in terms of ever making a profit, but Bradford wouldn't be paying a fee, and Barkhuizen has shown glimpses that he still has productive seasons ahead of him.

3.26 crosses per 90 minutes shows his delivery could create some key chances for Bradford's front-line, and he has that experience to make a difference.

Adding a proven and quality lower-league professional to this City side in Barkhuizen, would eliminate some - not all - of their attacking worries going into League One for the first time in six years.

The Bantams should waste no time in making contact with Barkhuizen, before someone else does.