The wheel came full circle for Stuart Reardon today when he made a shock return to his home-town team Bradford, four years after leaving the club.

The Bulls' capture of the 28-year-old former Great Britain full-back comes at the end of a turbulent year in which he admitted assault, was axed by two clubs and faced a career-threatening Achilles tendon injury.

Reardon, who had been linked with a move to Celtic Crusaders, was a free agent after leaving Warrington earlier this year.

"I'm really looking forward to joining Bradford," he said. "It's my home-town club and I'd like to thank them for giving me the opportunity to resume my career."

Reardon had a short spell at Salford before making the breakthrough with Bradford in 2003 when he won the Harry Sunderland Award as man of the match in Bulls' Grand Final win over Wigan, one of 78 appearances he made for the club.

He joined Warrington at the start of the 2006 season but was sacked in April after appearing in court alongside former Bradford team-mate Leon Pryce and being handed a 12-week suspended sentence for assaulting his estranged wife Kay.

Reardon then signed for Hull but the club cancelled his short-term contract 11 days later when he failed a medical on his Achilles injury.

Reardon, who won five Great Britain caps in 2004, has not played since May 2008 but has passed a medical at Odsal and signed a one-year contract.

Bradford coach Steve McNamara said: "Everybody knows the quality of Stuart Reardon as a player and his ability to break tackles and get the ball over the tryline.

"We're very excited to have him and Stuart is just as excited to be here.

"When he left Bradford Bulls he was still a young boy in a side surrounded by senior players. Now he is coming back as a senior player and we are very confident in his ability to be a fantastic player for us again."