It was a proper deadline day transfer saga but Jake Young has finally signed for Stevenage from Bradford City - within minutes of the window's close.

The former Forest Green Rovers, Barrow and Swindon Town striker had been looking to leave the Bantams and the final week of the summer transfer window had seen him apparently set for Fleetwood Town.

City accepted a bid but nothing materialised out of that, and it left Stevenage, Young's apparent preferred destination, as the only suitors.

However, they were well short of the Fleetwood bid that had been accepted and it was only into the last four hours that the two clubs began to move closer to agreement, getting there inside the final 30 minutes.

A statement from Stevenage said: "We have agreed terms with Bradford City for the signing of forward Jake Young.

"The 23-year-old joins Boro’ for an undisclosed fee after three years at Valley Parade.

"Similar to now reunited teammate Dan Kemp, Young spent the first half of last season on loan at Swindon Town, netting 16 times in 25 appearances in League Two.
 
"A product of the Sheffield United academy, the Huddersfield-born forward made his first professional appearances for Forest Green Rovers, before moving to Bradford City in 2022 for an undisclosed fee."

He made just 16 appearances at Valley Parade in that time, scoring four goals, and also spent time on loan at Barrow.

Simon Parker of the Telegraph & Argus, the Comet's sister paper in Bradford, said: "The striker joins the League One side for an undisclosed six-figure fee.

"The deal is also understood to include add-ons and a 'sizeable' sell-on clause."