BRADFORD have had their move for former Wales star Jonny Williams hijacked despite paying for his hotel ahead of his medical at the Bantams.
The move was hijacked at the last minute by Gillingham with the midfielder being announced in a cheeky video on the Gills’ Twitter.
Gillingham used the announcement of the club’s garish pink third kit as a means to unveil the surprise signing of Williams, 29, to fans.
In the video, fans walk into the room thinking they’ll see the new kit, but are in fact seeing Williams modelling it.
The midfielder was a free agent this summer after leaving Swindon Town without renewing his contract.
He had offers from Gillingham, Bradford and Hollywood-owned Wrexham.
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The Welsh club, owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney had hoped to convince the former Welsh star to join their project.
The unsuccessful move for Williams follows on from the owners’ attempts to sign Gareth Bale after he left LAFC.
Williams came through the Crystal Palace academy as a hotly tipped youngster in 2011.
From there he underwent a series of loan stints at Ipswich, Nottingham Forest, MK Dons and Sunderland.
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The midfielder played 70 times for Palace during his eight years at the club before signing for Charlton.
Two years later he joined Cardiff for a few months before signing with Swindon.
The midfielder’s light has shone brightest at international level where he made 33 appearances for Wales – including during their EURO 2016 run to the semi-final.
The midfielder is not Welsh born however.
Being born in Tunbridge Wells, he is a Kent native and he says that played a key part in picking Gillingham over Bradford.
On the battle over his signature he told KentOnline that he pulled the plug on his Bradford transfer just two hours before his medical.
He said: “Bradford is a very big club, a great club in this division, a well-respected club,
“It has its positives but when Gillingham came in it was a hard decision, a lot of thought, not a lot of sleep, but I want to be near home, that is where my friends and family are.
“I want to be part of this project and it was an opportunity I have always wanted to take in my career to play for Gillingham, close to home and be a part of a team that is likely to achieve success.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
