Bradford City have announced the signing of Clarke Oduor on a free transfer following his release from League One Barnsley according to the Bantams’ official website.
The Kenyan international has signed a three-year deal with the Bantams and is the first of Mark Hughes’ summer signings. The versatile wing-back has made 47 Championship appearances during his time with Barnsley before falling out of favour after their torrid 2021/22 season which saw them finish at the bottom of the Championship.
After the expiration of his contract with the Tykes, it was expected that he would depart the club. He has already had a taste of what League Two is like having been loaned out to Hartlepool United in the first half of the season. Making 14 appearances during his time with the Pools, he was recalled in January where he would stay with his parent club for the rest of the campaign.
Who is Clarke Oduor?
Having come through the academy at Leeds United, Oduor switched to fellow Yorkshire side Barnsley in 2019 where he regularly saw game time in his first two seasons. The 23-year-old’s versatility is by far his strongest asset, and he will bring plenty of creativity to the table. A player who can play on the left or the right Bradford have a Swiss army knife type player on their hands, who if used correctly will play a big part in their promotion push next season.
Having finished last season in sixth position, Bradford will be hoping to challenge at the top end of the table once again. Despite winning the first leg of their play-off semi-final against Carlisle United, they would end up losing the second leg in extra time missing out on a spot in the final and subsequent chance of playing third tier football next year. This will be a big year for Mark Hughes’ side, and being one of the clubs in the division, expectations could be high.
What’s Been Said?
When speaking to Bradford’s official website, Oduor said:
“I am excited. This is a huge club with a great fanbase, so I cannot wait to get going.”
“I am here to hopefully help us get back up the leagues. It is a three-year contract, so I am just looking forward to kicking on here.”
“I signed for Barnsley four years ago and have a decent level of experience. It has been good to go out on loan and find a little bit more out about the league, so I feel I am ready to enjoy my time here.”
“My game is about excitement. I like to get on the ball a lot and make things happen, creating chances for myself and my teammates. That is what I am all about.”
When speaking on the signing of Oduor, manager Mark Hughes said:
“He is a versatile, dynamic player who will bring a lot of different attributes to our squad, having already amassed a great deal of experience at both club and international level at a young age.”
“His time at Barnsley playing in both the Championship and League One, coupled with an impressive spell at Hartlepool last season, shows the threat he carries as well as his ability to play at a higher level.”
Writer’s View
The signing of Oduor could go one of two ways, he could be an absolute steal or a complete flop. The key is utilising him in the right areas to get the best out of him, something which in his time at Hartlepool he probably didn’t get quite right. Hughes is one of the most experienced managers in the division and clearly sees something in the Kenyan by giving him a three-year deal. There really aren’t many players in the division who can do as much as Oduor, and it will be interesting to see how he is deployed at Valley Parade.
