Bradford Bulls have announced the return of James Donaldson on a two-year deal from the start of the 2025 season.

Donaldson made his professional debut in the red, amber and black aged just 17 in 2009 – going on to make 79 appearances for the Odsal outfit before joining Hull Kingston Rovers in 2015.

After three years as a Robin, the Cumbrian forward signed for Leeds Rhinos, where he has spent the last seven seasons – lifting the Challenge Cup in 2020 and featuring in Super League’s Grand Final in 2022.

And now having penned a return to where his stellar career began, the 32-year-old is excited to be able to use his experience to help build the Bulls’ way back towards Super League.

He said: "I have done the full circle back to where it all started and the club is in a different position now, so I am really excited.

"I am coming back as a different player with a lot more experience and I feel I can bring a lot to the club to help build their way back towards Super League.

“It’s nice to come back as Bradford gave me my first opportunity and got my career off to a good start.

"This transfer wasn’t all plain sailing, but having sat down with Brian Noble and Eamon O’Carroll and hearing them speak in depth about the vision and where they see the club going, it matches what I want.

"It is a perfect fit alongside me building my next career in quantity surveying as well.

“I think I can really do a good job to drive standards and push the players around me to get the best out of them and get them playing their best rugby.

"It's also about me having a good dig myself to push the club forward, so I am really excited about that opportunity.

“The crowd was absolutely bouncing that night I came back on dual registration for one game (away to Halifax last year).

Bulls won an epic Championship encounter 26-22 at The Shay last April, aided in no small part by the appearance of Leeds trio James Donaldson, Sam Walters and Luis Roberts. Bulls won an epic Championship encounter 26-22 at The Shay last April, aided in no small part by the appearance of Leeds trio James Donaldson, Sam Walters and Luis Roberts. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

"I am really excited to be back playing in front of those fans next season and I am sure there will be a lot of familiar faces from when I left in 2014, so it’s really exciting.”

Bradford head coach O’Carroll has hailed the capture of Donaldson as a ‘huge statement’ – insisting his work ethic and leadership will bolster his ranks over the next two years.

“I feel this is a huge statement from the club to be able to bring in someone of the quality and experience of James,” said O’Carroll.

“We identified that we wanted to bring in people with good work ethics and strong leadership qualities and James has that in abundance.

“After speaking with him it’s clear he feels has unfinished business at the club and he is hungry to help us achieve our goals.

"I look forward to working with him and welcoming him and his young family back to our club.

“Finally I’d just like to place on record my thanks to the Bradford Bulls Squad Booster Association for their continued support, enabling us to bring in quality players like James for 2025 and beyond.”