Nahki Wells

Nahki Michael Wells (born 1 June 1990) is a Bermudian professional footballer who plays as a forward for club Bristol City and the Bermuda national team.

Wells began his career in his native Bermuda, playing for Dandy Town Hornets and Bermuda Hogges.

After moving to England, where he had a brief spell in non-league football with Eccleshill United, Wells subsequently played in the Football League for Carlisle United, Bradford City and Huddersfield Town.

After a move to Burnley, he spent two spells on loan at Queens Park Rangers before making a permanent transfer to Bristol City.

Wells was born in Hamilton.

He began his career in his native Bermuda with the Dandy Town Hornets, a team he had first joined at the age of 12.

Wells had a trial with Dutch club Ajax as a teenager; he was offered a contract but ultimately did not sign for the club.

After spending the 2009–10 season with the senior team of the Dandy Town Hornets, scoring 20 goals, Wells spent the 2010 season in the USL PDL with the Bermuda Hogges, scoring 2 goals in 9 games.

Wells later moved to England to attend the Richmond International Academic and Soccer Academy in Leeds, graduating in the Academy's first year, and also played club football with local non-League team Eccleshill United.

Wells underwent a trial with Carlisle United in November 2010, his second with the club.

Before moving to the UK, Wells sought the advice of compatriot Shaun Goater.

In December 2010, it was announced that Wells would sign for Carlisle United on 1 January 2011.

Wells made his debut for Carlisle United on 15 January 2011, in a League One game against Bristol Rovers.

In March 2011, Wells publicly announced his wish to play at Wembley Stadium with Carlisle United in the 2011 Football League Trophy Final, to be played in April 2011.

However, Wells did not make the matchday squad, as Carlisle United beat Brentford 1–0.

On 3 May 2011, it was announced that Wells' contract with Carlisle United would not be renewed at the end of the season.

In late June 2011, Wells went on trial with Bradford City alongside four other players.

He signed a one-year contract with Bradford City on 22 July 2011.

Wells made his debut for Bradford City on the opening day of the 2011–12 season, coming on as a 74th-minute substitute for Mark Stewart.

He scored his first goal for the Bantams in a 4–2 win against Barnet.

On 9 March 2012, Bradford City exercised an option in Wells' contract, and extended his deal by one year.

On 14 April, he scored a hat-trick as Bradford beat Northampton Town 3–1.

He was later named in the Football League Two Team of the Week for that week.

Following this, former Bradford City player Dean Windass urged Wells to remain with the club, while ex-Bermudian international Kyle Lightbourne compared him to Jermain Defoe.

In early May, Wells and Bradford City began discussions over a new four-year contract, and later that month he publicly assured fans that he would stay with the club.

In June there were further rumours of Wells leaving the club, while it was later revealed that he nearly never signed for the club in the first place.

In July, Wells stated he was in no rush to sign a new contract.

Wells scored a penalty on the opening day of the 2012–13 season in an away match against Gillingham.

He scored his second goal of the season on 25 August in a 5–1 win against AFC Wimbledon, and also assisted the fifth goal, crossing for James Hanson to score with a header.

In September 2012, Wells suffered a hip injury.

On 25 September, Wells came off the bench to score two late goals to help Bradford overturn a 2–0 deficit against Burton Albion in the League Cup third round, with Bradford going on to win the game 3–2 in extra time.

At the end of September 2012, Wells signed a new three-year contract with the club, in a move praised by Phil Parkinson, the club's manager.

In October 2012, Wells was banned by the club from celebrating his goals.

As the January 2013 transfer window opened, Bradford City dismissed rumours linking Wells with a move away from the club.

On 8 January 2013, he helped Bradford beat Premier League side Aston Villa 3–1 in the first leg of the semi-final of the League Cup by opening the scoring in the 19th minute.

After appearing in the 2013 League Cup Final, Wells became the first player from Bermuda to appear in an English major cup final.

Although Wells did not complete the game, prior to the match he spoke about being motivated by the recent death of a friend in a motorcycle accident, as well as how he was looking forward to facing opponents from a higher league.

Wells hadn't scored for the club since 2 February 2013, until he scored the only goal of the game on 6 April 2013, in a 1–0 home victory against Northampton Town.

Later that month, he was linked with a transfer to Burnley.

In May 2013, Wells scored three goals across two legs to help Bradford City qualify for the League Two play-off final.