Promotion winning midfielder and former Bradford City captain was announced to be leaving the club on Monday morning from the club after joining the Bantams in 2022 ahead of their 2022-23 play-off campaign. This has come to the anger and understanding of fans alike who can be seen to wish nothing but the best to the 34 year old. Now, with the defensive midfielder available on a free transfer, join me as we go through 5 clubs Smallwood could join.
What Kind Of Player Is The Former Bradford City Captain?
When Richie Smallwood joined the Bantams in 2022, the term ‘marquee’ was said a lot and that arguably was very reasonable considering the 34 year old’s previous history which involves promotion with both Hull City and Rotherham United.
Smallwood’s Career Achievements:
- League One Winner – Hull City – 2020/21
- League One Play-Off Winner – Rotherham United – 2014
- Rotherham United Player of the Season – 2014/15
- League Two Team of the Season – 2024/25
The former Rotherham man plays primarily in a defensive midfield role sitting behind a central or attacking midfielder. He is commanding, has many leadership qualities which can be backed up through his time as Bradford City captain most recently and isn’t afraid to make a tackle with the defensive midfielder making 77 tackles during the 2024/25 League Two campaign.
However, the 34 year old is also prone to picking up a lot of cards which can be seen through his disciplinary record during the 2024-25 season which saw him pick up 9 yellow cards and a straight red card. This is due to his on the edge nature and due to his ability to launch into tackles.
Oldham Athletic –Â
Our first club comes in the form of newly promoted Oldham Athletic who return to the EFL for the first time since 2022.
Ahead of their first season back in the EFL, the Latics will be looking for a strong period of summer recruitment to ensure they have a strong enough squad to compete competitively in League Two next season.
With a normally large budget alongside a 3-5-2 formation, Richie Smallwood could fit perfectly into the centre of the midfield. With his composure on the ball, consistency in performances and goal contributions, the 34 year old could be an excellent signing for Oldham.
MK Dons –Â
The second club on our list is MK Dons who come off the back of a largely unsuccessful campaign that saw MK finish 19th after being tipped for promotion by many fans across the EFL going into the 2024-25 season.
With their 3-1-4-2 formation currently, the Stadium MK outfit’s formation features one defensive midfielder which provides a perfect spot for Richie Smallwood to fit into.
Furthermore, with Smallwood’s experience getting out of League Two combined with the fact that the 34 year old consistently played week in, week out in the division, the former Blackburn man arguably could fit into the MK side and play consistently which would aid the Milton Keynes outfit in their bid to bounce back in the 2025-26 season.
Doncaster Rovers –Â
Our third club of the article arrives in the form of newly crowned League 2 Champions Doncaster Rovers who won the title with 84 points.
Rovers will now be looking to recruit strongly ahead of their return to the third tier. With their 4-2-3-1 formation – a formation which features 2 defensive midfielders – Richie Smallwood could a perfect fit with his ability and expertise in the position.
Whilst Charlie Crew and George Broadbent are excellent midfielders, they are still young and will need experienced heads to guide them through the 2025-26 season. This is where the former League One winner could come into usefulness.
Furthermore, with over 350 appearances across the EFL, Smallwood brings immense experience with him which can be seen to be crucial in both wanting to stay in League One and also pushing on towards the higher end of the table.
York City –Â
Our fourth pick of this list comes in the form of the National League‘s 2nd placed side last season who missed out on promotion following their defeat to Oldham Athletic in the play-off semi-final.
Now, with aims to put the disappointments of defeat to bed and push on towards promotion to the Football League.
To do this, recruitment through experience will be key. Upon initial view, York have an extremely strong squad with names such as Ollie Pearce and Alex Hunt standing out. However, more must be done ahead of the 2025-26 season in an even more competitive National League.
In Richie Smallwood, the Minstermen arguably achieve just that with a midfielder who has experience in League Two, League One and the Championship and a midfielder who has experience in promotion winning seasons.
Furthermore, the 34 year old’s composure on the ball alongside his creativity and consistency make him an ideal fit for the side, a side which operate in a 4-2-3-1 system.
Tranmere Rovers –Â
The final club on our list is Tranmere Rovers who will be both looking to rebuild following their 20th place finish in the League Two table and build the foundations for a promotion push.
This makes recruitment a crucial aspect within the club as Tranmere must both recruit for the future through younger signings and recruit for the present with older, more experienced professionals.
The signing of Richie Smallwood would most definitely fall into the second category with the midfielder unfortunately not getting any younger.
However, Crosby’s 3-4-2-1 system means there is space for Smallwood within the line-up in the centre of the park. The League Two promotion winner would most likely take the place of Jake Garrett who is due to return to Blackburn Rovers following his spell at Tranmere Rovers during the second half of the season.
Smallwood would bring many aspects to the team but one of his most important attributes is his leadership skills. At the centre of midfield, these leadership qualities would be crucial in helping Tranmere progress as a team and in dictating play on the field.
What Do You Think?
With the defensive midfielder guaranteed to go on a free transfer to a club whether that be in the EFL or in non-league, what do you think of our options? Is there one you could see him ending up at or do you have a better suggestion? Let us know below.
