League One Bradford City are preparing to part ways with long‑serving striker Andy Cook this summer, a decision that has alerted several ambitious EFL clubs. Grimsby Town, Rotherham United and Chesterfield are all monitoring the situation closely as the 35‑year‑old approaches the end of his contract after years of service that cemented his status as a modern‑day Bradford City legend.
Cook’s January loan switch to League Two Grimsby Town, a move first reported by The Lower Tiers, offered him exactly what he needed: consistent minutes and a platform to re-establish himself following the ACL injury that disrupted his 2024/25 campaign. At his age, such an injury can easily end a career, yet Cook has responded in the only way he knows—by scoring goals and proving people wrong.
The Durham-born forward has been a relentless attacking force throughout his time at Valley Parade, amassing a remarkable goal contribution tally. Across his Bradford City spell, Cook produced 88 goals and supplied 24 assists, underlining just how influential he has been in the club’s attacking play.
During the 2022/23 season, Cook delivered one of the most dominant individual campaigns seen in League Two for years, smashing past the 30‑goal mark in all competitions and finishing as the division’s leading scorer. His performances earned him the PFA League Two Player of the Year award and a deserved place in the Team of the Season. Cook carried that momentum into the early stages of the 2024/25 campaign, continuing to score regularly for Bradford City before suffering the ACL injury that ultimately ended his season. In his absence, manager Graham Alexander reshaped the side into a high‑intensity pressing unit — a system that, while effective for the team and lead the team to promotion from League Two, did not naturally align with Cook’s strengths as a traditional penalty‑box striker.
Coming back into the team at the start of this season, it was clear that Alexander didn’t want to sacrifice that style of play to fit Andy Cook in. Despite desperate calls for him to stay from fans, Cook went on the lookout for regular first-team minutes and made a move to League Two Grimsby Town, on loan.
Even now, Cook continues to showcase his trademark ruthlessness. Since joining Grimsby in January, he has already hit seven goals in 14 league starts, reigniting their push for the play‑offs and reminding the division that he remains one of the most reliable finishers at this level.
With over 650 senior appearances and more than 250 career goals, Cook shows no signs of slowing down. For any League Two side with promotion ambitions, he represents guaranteed output, invaluable experience, and a mentality forged through years of proving doubters wrong.
Grimsby, Rotherham and Chesterfield all know exactly what they would be getting—and that is why the race for Andy Cook could be a summer-long transfer saga.
