Bradford City Sign Defender Hayden Matthews on Loan

Bradford City have bolstered their back line with the loan signing of Portsmouth defender Hayden Matthews on a season-long deal.

The 22-year-old centre-back, capped once by Australia, arrives at Mbanq Valley Parade looking to relaunch his momentum after an injury-disrupted spell at Fratton Park. Portsmouth paid £1.25m to bring him in from Sydney FC in January 2025, a move that underlined how highly he was rated, but fitness issues have limited his impact.

Matthews has made 20 appearances for Pompey, with his last competitive outing coming in the 1-1 draw against Birmingham at Fratton Park on the final day of last season. Since then, opportunity has been scarce. Bradford now offer him a fresh stage and, crucially, regular minutes.

His arrival continues a clear pattern in City’s summer business. Matthews becomes the club’s third recent loan addition, following QPR midfielder Kieran Morgan and Blackburn Rovers defender George Pratt through the door.

Three loans. Three young players with something to prove. Bradford’s intent is obvious: add energy, add depth, and see who can turn a temporary move into something far more significant.