Bradford City have made a bold statement in the January transfer window, snapping up Newcastle United duo Harrison Ashby and Joe White on loan for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. The signings, confirmed on January 13, 2026, have sent ripples through League One, with the Bantams—currently sitting third and eyeing a second consecutive promotion—demonstrating their ambition and intent to bolster their squad for the crucial run-in.
Harrison Ashby, a 24-year-old right wing-back and West Ham United academy product, brings a wealth of Championship experience to Valley Parade. Ashby’s career has been a winding road: after making seven senior appearances for West Ham and featuring twice in their UEFA Conference League-winning campaign in 2023, he joined Newcastle following the group stages that same year. Despite a promising introduction—Newcastle paid a fee that could rise to £3 million for his services—Ashby found first-team opportunities at St James’ Park elusive, never managing a senior appearance for the Magpies. Instead, his development continued through loan spells at Swansea City and Queens Park Rangers, where he made 16 and 31 appearances respectively, including 29 games in the Championship last term.
Upon signing for Bradford City, Ashby’s enthusiasm was palpable. “I am just delighted to finally get it done. I am here now to play football and help the team,” he said. “After a call with the manager, you get a feeling about whether it is the right move for you. Straight after the call, I said to my agent, ‘That is where I want to be’, this is the perfect place for me.” His versatility—having played both at right-back and in midfield—should offer manager Graham Alexander valuable options, but Alexander made it clear: “Harrison comes in with Championship experience and excellent quality. He has been positionally adaptable in his previous loans, but we see him mainly competing for the wing-back role in our system. I am sure he will enjoy his time here and find an environment where he can showcase his talent.”
Joe White, meanwhile, is a 23-year-old attacking midfielder whose journey has been equally eventful. White joined Newcastle’s academy from Carlisle United in 2016 and has since been on a series of loans to clubs including Hartlepool United, Exeter City, Crewe Alexandra, Milton Keynes Dons, and most recently Leyton Orient. It was at MK Dons last season that White truly shone, scoring six goals in 35 League Two appearances and catching the eye of observers across the English Football League. His experience at Leyton Orient, though, was less fruitful: he featured in just four League One matches before being recalled by Newcastle earlier this month.
White’s Premier League experience with Newcastle is limited but notable—he made four substitute appearances for Eddie Howe’s side in 2024 and debuted in a memorable 2-2 draw with Bournemouth. Reflecting on his move to Bradford, White expressed his excitement: “It is a great feeling. I am so happy to be here at such an amazing and massive club. I played against this side towards the end of last season when they were going for promotion. The way they played and with the fan base as well, you can tell the players and the fans bounce off each other. I just want to fit into that and give the supporters something to cheer about.”
Bradford City manager Graham Alexander has been busy this window, having already brought in midfielder Louie Sibley from Oxford United. Speaking about his new signings, Alexander said, “Joe is a player we have admired for a while and we believe his creativity will bring an added dimension to our team. Harrison comes in with Championship experience and excellent quality.” These acquisitions are not just about adding numbers; they are about injecting proven talent and versatility into a squad that has already exceeded expectations this season.
Bradford’s rapid rise under Alexander has been one of the stories of the League One campaign. Fresh off promotion from League Two, the Bantams are mounting a serious challenge for back-to-back promotions—a feat that would see them return to the Championship for the first time in over a decade. The arrival of Ashby and White is a clear signal of intent: the club is not content to simply consolidate its position but is pushing for the top.
For Ashby, the move to Bradford offers a chance to reignite a career that has, at times, been stalled by injuries and the fierce competition for places at Newcastle. Newcastle boss Eddie Howe had previously praised Ashby’s potential, saying, “He is a very talented young player with a lot of potential so we are delighted to sign him. He has very good attributes so we are looking forward to working with him in this exciting new chapter of his career.” However, injuries—most recently a thigh problem—have hampered his progress. Now fit and ready, Ashby is determined to make the most of this opportunity in West Yorkshire.
White, whose contract with Newcastle runs until 2027, faces a pivotal spell in his career. There have been whispers that Newcastle could consider a permanent sale if he impresses during this loan. White has always been a competitor, famously stating about his rivalry with Newcastle teammate Elliot Anderson, “Me and El have been like that since I have been here. We have been neck and neck. We are best mates but it is a competition. We have said that to each other and, yeah, it will always be (a competition). That’s a good thing, we push each other and off the pitch we have jokes. On the pitch, it can only improve ourselves.”
The duo could make their Bradford debuts in a mouth-watering clash at home to League One leaders Cardiff City on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 12:30 GMT. With the Bantams just a few points off the summit and the promotion race heating up, all eyes will be on Valley Parade to see if Ashby and White can make an immediate impact.
As the second half of the season unfolds, Bradford City’s fans have every reason to be optimistic. The arrivals of Harrison Ashby and Joe White add not only depth but proven quality and hunger to a team already brimming with belief. Whether these signings will be the final pieces in Alexander’s promotion puzzle remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the Bantams are not backing down from the fight for the Championship. The next chapter begins this weekend, and the anticipation around Valley Parade is palpable.
