Aden Baldwin comments hint Bradford City summer transfers may be nearly done: View | OneFootball

Bradford City could be finished with their transfer activity already this summer after recent quotes from new signing Aden Baldwin.

Bradford City's quick start in the summer transfer window may have surprised supporters.

The club wasted no time with recruiting new players, signing four before the start of June. Although not expected, this shows the intentions of the recruitment team and manager Graham Alexander to create a settled side based on promotion experience as soon as possible.

The double swoop for former Stockport County duo Neill Byrne and Antoni Sacevic, plus Callum Johnson from Mansfield Town, has shown that this summer's intention was to add players with success off promotion from this division in the hopes of achieving the same next season.

Since Aden Baldwin was the latest name to join the Bantams, with his signing announced on 31st May, the club has revealed no other signings to date, which could potentially send out the message that the transfer business is already done and dusted by the club before pre-season has even begun.

Let’s look at Baldwin's comments and what was discussed with manager Graham Alexander upon signing.

Graham Alexander targeted signing promotion winners this transfer window

As mentioned, aside from Baldwin, who was signed from Notts County, the other three summer transfer incomings all won promotion last season, which is something the club will look to replicate as pressure is on for the Bantams to finally return to EFL League One.

Baldwin is also a recent promotion winner, stating, “He’s (Alexander) brought two players in who won a title last season, another whose team went up, and then I’ve got a promotion under my belt from the year before.”

Regardless if it was an obvious strategy, this is not a bad transfer model to have as these players have been there and done it in recent seasons. This experience could be the driving factor to any success that the club has next season.

Should supporters expect any more incomings at Valley Parade?

Although the transfer window provides a lot of excitement for supporters, with names coming and leaving, in the long run, it’s probably best that the club focuses on creating a settled environment.

Fans are aware that drastic changes would be unnecessary, as the club only missed out on the play-offs by one point last season and lost in the EFL League Two Play-Off Semi-Final the season before that. A few additions with experience getting over the line could be all the club needs for success.

Baldwin commented, “He (Alexander) also said to me that Bradford doesn’t need many new players for a promotion-winning team, they only need a few” before adding, “If we end up being successful this season, having added just a few lads with different qualities and attributes to what’s already at the club, as well as bringing in that winning mentality, that will be a big reason behind it.”

If the club's transfer activity is complete, then supporters could be happy with the current squad. Players like Jake Young and Alex Pattison may also feel like new players due to their injury woes during the 2023-2024 season.

Should there be no more transfers, there is no doubt that there is enough quality in the team. It’s now down to Alexander to get the best out of them, which is something easier said than done, which England manager Gareth Southgate seems to be struggling with, albeit at a completely different level.