Huddersfield Town have smashed their record transfer fee to buy Bradford hot shot Nahki Wells.

The frontman has joined the Terriers on a four-and-a-half year deal and will take shirt number 21.

And Mark Robins is in line to add a further frontline recruit in Kidderminster’s Joe Lolley.

While the 21-year-old Lolley, rated at £250,000 by the Conference club, is in line to join up after their big FA Cup third-round replay against Peterborough on Tuesday, Bermuda international Wells is expected to figure in Saturday's home Championship clash with Millwall.

The fee is undisclosed, but I understand it’s over £1.3m, topping the previous highest of £1.2m paid to Bristol Rovers for Marcus Stewart in July 1996.

Marcus Stewart in action on the opening day of the 1998/99 season at Bury
Marcus Stewart in action on the opening day of the 1998/99 season at Bury

The 23-year-old has scored 15 goals this season, one of them at the John Smith’s Stadium in Bradford’s 2-1 Capital One Cup first-round defeat in August, and 53 in total since joining the Bantams in June 2011.

Town boss Robins rates Wells highly and believes he will only improve.

“His goalscoring record over the last 18 months is hugely impressive and we believe he is ready to make the step up to the Championship,” said Robins.

“He will excite the fans and has already shown them what he can do with his goal in the Capital One Cup.

“I believe he will offer our frontline something different and I can’t wait to watch him in action for us.”Robins added:

We have tracked the progress of Nakhi for some time and we are delighted that we have secured his signature.

At just 23 he has huge potential, which he has proven at Bradford in the last two seasons. He fits into our ethos of buying young, hungry players who have experience and that we can develop.”

While he was under contract at Valley Parade until the end of next season, he refused to even discuss an extension, and Bradford knew his value would drop with each passing transfer window.

Bradford City v Northampton Town - npower Football League Two Play-Off Final - Wembley Stadium - 12/13 - 18/5/13
Bradford City's Nahki Wells in action
Credit: Action Images / Paul Childs
Bradford City v Northampton Town - npower Football League Two Play-Off Final - Wembley Stadium - 12/13 - 18/5/13 Bradford City's Nahki Wells in action Credit: Action Images / Paul Childs

The League I club were left with a dilemma of balancing the need to land the kind of fee they wanted for their prize asset with ensuring sufficient time to bring in a replacement.

A string of clubs, including Burnley, Leeds, Middlesbrough and Wolves, were reported to be challenging Town for Wells’ signature.Wells, born in Hamilton, Bermuda, has followed the likes of Clyde Best and Shaun Goater by leaving to make his mark in English football.

Having played for island clubs Dandy Town Hornets and Bermuda Hogges, he arrived in England in 2010 to attend a Leeds football academy.

He caught the eye while playing for Eccleshill United, Northern Counties East League rivals of Huddersfield’s AFC Emley, and won a short-term deal at Carlisle.

When the Cumbrian club decided against renewing his contract, he joined Bradford – and has never looked back.After notching 12 goals in 2011-12, Wells bagged 26 last season as the Bantams reached the Capital One Cup final and won promotion from League II.

Town were in the hunt for the 5ft 7in frontman a year ago, but Bradford’s cup exploits meant they had less need to cash in at that stage.

Wells was backed in to 1/3 (from 25s when betting first opened) to make the short move across West Yorkshire, and BetVictor have a host of specials on how well the new signing adapts to life in the Championship.

BetVictor spokesperson  Jack Milner said: “Wells arrives at the John Smith’s Stadium with a massive reputation and despite speculation linking him to a plethora of Premiership clubs, he has chosen to stay local with Huddersfield.

“BetVictor make him 6/5 to out-score new striker partner James Vaughan and 10/11 to score over seven goals during the second half of the season.”

Lolley has scored seven goals in 25 games for Kidderminster, who are willing to sell, but with the prize of a trip to Premier League Sunderland up for grabs, want the move delayed until after the third-round cup replay at London Road

Joe Lolley (in red) in action for Kidderminster
Joe Lolley (in red) in action for Kidderminster

Peterborough are also keen on the man who represented Britain in last summer’s World University Games in Russia, adding an extra dimension to the tie.

Redditch-born Lolley earned a summer switch to Kidderminster on a one-year contract after scoring 88 goals in 83 appearances for Midlands minnows Littleton.

Chances like this don't come around twice: Nahki Wells on joining Huddersfield Town from Bradford City - click here to read