Huddersfield Town hit the bullseye with £1.5m transfer - Yorkshire rivals may have felt short-changed | OneFootball

Nahki Wells signed for Huddersfield Town for a club-record fee, yet Bradford City may feel they were robbed

Nahki Wells joined Huddersfield Town for a club-record fee in January 2014 from Bradford City, having scored prolifically at Valley Parade in the seasons' prior, and the Bantams may regret selling him for as little as they did.

Having been born and raised in the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, Wells began his career in his native country with the Dandy Town Hornets and Bermuda Hogges, before later moving to England in 2010 to attend the Richmond International Academic and Soccer Academy in Leeds.

Whilst with the academy, Wells also played for non-league outfit Eccleshill United, before going on trial with Carlisle United in December 2010, signing a professional deal beginning in January 2011.

Wells made just three appearances for Carlisle before his contract expired at the end of the season, subsequently joining League Two Bradford City on a free transfer the following summer, signing a one-year deal at Valley Parade.

The Bermudan scored ten goals and grabbed one assist in his first full season of professional football, and the Bantams awarded him with a fresh four-year deal at the end of the season.

Wells hit new heights in the following campaign, scoring 18 times and contributing to five assists in 39 League Two matches, followed by four goals and one assist in Bradford's play-off victory, including a goal in the final in a 3-0 win over Northampton, whilst they lost out in the League Cup final 5-0 to Swansea City.

Again, the Bermudan hitman went from strength to strength, as upon Bradford's promotion, Wells scored 14 times as well as getting two assists in just 19 League One games in the first half of the 2013/14 campaign, but unfortunately for the Bantams, his exploits hadn't gone unnoticed, and the January window was bearing down on them.

Huddersfield Town signed Nahki Wells for a club-record £1.5 million from Bradford City in January 2014

Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Town had stood up and taken notice of Wells' performances at Valley Parade and decided to part ways with a club-record £1.5 million to sign the Bermudan in January 2014.

Then-Bradford joint-chairman Mark Lawn defended Wells' move to Huddersfield, saying: "Every single Bradford City supporter should wish Nahki the best in his future career.

"He helped us stay up the year we were awful, he then helped us to get into a major cup final and then back to Wembley to win promotion.

"Of course, it was not just him, but his goals went a long way. We should have nothing but admiration for the lad and what he has achieved with this club."

Having played in League Two as recently as May 2013, Wells now found himself in the EFL Championship, just one division away from the Premier League, and upon his arrival with the Terriers, he came off the bench to score in a 1-0 home victory over Millwall, instantly endearing himself to the Huddersfield faithful.

Following Wells' winner, then-Huddersfield boss Mark Robins said: "It was a real poacher’s goal and an outstanding finish.

"We have heard people question why he has signed for Huddersfield, saying it is tantamount to lacking ambition but that’s ignorant.

"Bradford wanted to do the business early and so did we. If we had waited until later in the window we would have been struggling."

Wells finished his first half-season with Huddersfield with seven goals and two assists, and would continue his fine goal-scoring form in West Yorkshire thereafter.

The Bermudan would consistently hit double digits for goals in each of his three full seasons with the Terriers, and would achieve his dream of achieving Premier League football at the end of the 2016/17 campaign, helping Huddersfield defeat Reading on penalties in the play-off final, with Wells netting his spot-kick in the shootout.

Wells would be Premier League-bound, but it wouldn't be for Huddersfield.

Sean Dyche's Burnley agreed a £5 million fee with Huddersfield in August 2017 for his signature, with the striker in the final year of his deal, though his only season in the top flight would fall flat, making just nine appearances for the Clarets without scoring or assisting.

Wells accumulated just 45 minutes of top-flight football, unable to displace either Chris Wood, Ashley Barnes, or Sam Vokes in the Burnley starting 11, and would return to the Championship the following season, joining Queens Park Rangers on loan.

The Bermudan would spend two seasons on loan in West London with the R's before joining Bristol City for £5 million in January 2020, as Burnley recouped much of the fee they spent just two seasons prior.

Wells spent five-and-a-half years with the Robins, making over 230 appearances for the club, scoring 48 and grabbing 19 assists during his time at Ashton Gate before joining League One Luton Town in the summer of 2025 on a free transfer.

A true veteran of the EFL, Wells has made well over 500 appearances in the three divisions, including 424 in the second tier as his career winds down in League One with Luton.

Although Huddersfield forked out a club-record fee to sign Wells, it wouldn't be surprising for there to be a large amount of regret on the side of Bradford for selling him for as little as they did, especially considering the fees being spent around the leagues now.