John Bateman is going home. The England forward has signed a two-year deal with Bradford Bulls starting in the 2027 season, returning to the club where his professional career began (BBC Sport).

Bateman is currently in Australia with North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL — rugby league's top Australian competition. The 32-year-old will see out his commitments before heading back to West Yorkshire. Bradford also hold an option for a third year on the contract (BBC Sport; Bradford Bulls).

For Bateman, the pull of Odsal Stadium was personal. He came through Bradford's youth system and made his first-team debut there against Catalans Dragons in April 2011, aged just 17. He left for Wigan Warriors in 2014 — the first of two spells with the club — and has since played in the NRL with Canberra Raiders and Wests Tigers before joining the Cowboys (BBC Sport).

An England and Great Britain international, Bateman brings a wealth of top-level experience to a Bulls side riding a wave of momentum. Bradford earned promotion back to Super League, the top tier of English rugby league, which made the decision straightforward for a player who never lost his connection to the club.

"Once the club got promoted back to Super League, it was something I wanted to make happen," Bateman said in a statement on the club website (BBC Sport; Bradford Bulls).

For Bradford fans, this is a signature signing — a proven international choosing the Bulls over other options, at a point when the club is re-establishing itself at the highest level. For Bateman, it is the chance to close the circle at the ground where it all started.