Reading FC, Bradford City and Chesterfield in transfer battle for ex-Burnley player | OneFootball

Bradford City, Reading FC, Chesterfield and nine other League One clubs are all chasing the signature of Accrington Stanley's Benn Ward this January.

Bradford City, Reading FC and Chesterfield, along with nine other unnamed League One clubs all watched Accrington Stanley defender Benn Ward in their FA Cup tie against Mansfield Town on Saturday.

The 22-year-old joined Stanley from Burnley in January, and has impressed for John Doolan's side, playing 16 matches in League Two thus far with his hugely consistent performances at the back.

This form has landed him interest from the division above, according to reports from journalist Alan Nixon via his Patreon page on Sunday morning, with Bradford, Chesterfield, and Reading among a whole host of clubs sniffing around the defender.

According to Nixon, representatives from the three aforementioned clubs and nine more unnamed League One sides all headed to the Wham Stadium on Saturday to watch Ward in action in Accy's FA Cup Second Round tie against Mansfield.

The young centre-back is out of contract in the summer, and with plenty of January interest being drummed up, we could well see Accrington decide to cash in, rather than losing him for nothing in the summer.

Accrington missed out on the opportunity to secure a place in the Third Round of the FA Cup on Saturday, as they lost out on penalties to Mansfield in an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Wham Stadium.

However, this particular fixture was reportedly a popular destination for League One scouts, as Stanley's Ward had plenty of watchers ahead of the January transfer window.

Scouts from Bradford, Reading, and League Two Chesterfield were among those clubs confirmed by Nixon to be present to watch the defender, with nine other unnamed League One clubs also said to be checking out the former Burnley man.

The 22-year-old has been a stalwart in Accrington's backline this season, ranking among some of the best players in his position in the division for tackles won, aerial and ground duels won, interceptions, and ball recoveries.

Ward arrived at Accrington from their Lancashire neighbours in January 2025, penning a one-and-a-half-year deal. This means that his current contract is set to expire in the summer of 2026, just six months from now.

This means that the winter transfer window will be their last chance to make some cash from him, if he isn't interested in signing a new deal at the club, meaning he could walk for free in the summer.

Young left-footed central defenders are often a commodity to come by in today's transfer market, so it's no surprise that plenty of clubs higher up the EFL are reportedly sniffing around Ward, with a potential bargain pick up in mind.

It will be interesting to see whether the 22-year-old feels he's ready for the challenge of League One football, having impressed in League Two thus far, or will commit his immediate future to Stanley, helping steer them clear of the drop zone in the fourth tier.