Wright has joined City on a two-and-half year deal with an option for another year. The 24-year old has spent his whole professional career at Preston since leaving Melbourne as a teenager.

Wright admitted it was a tough decision to depart after more than 200 appearances for the Lilywhites.

“It’s always going to be tough to leave a club you’ve been with for eight years, but it’s a new chapter to look forward to," he told the Bristol City website.

“I’m grateful for my time at Preston and had a lot of success there. I wish them all the best for the future. Since I’ve been in the UK, I’ve always been at one club so this is a new part of my career. It seems like a great setup here with a great bunch of lads.

“I’m excited to be here. I’m looking forward to what is ahead. I’ve got big ambitions and I’m joining a big club in a really nice city. We’ve had a few good battles over the years with Bristol City (at Preston) and I’ve also played with a number of players who have been at the club.

“Results haven’t been great recently but I’ve seen the team play a number of times and you can see, with the way the team has been playing, they really don’t deserve to have lost all of those games.

“We are where we are and we just have to get on with it. I’ve come here to win football matches and push the club up the division.”
 

 

Wright won a Young Player of the Year award in 2013 at Preston and a League One play-off final winner’s medal in 2015. He has made 12 appearances for the Socceroos.

The defender could make his debut for the Robins in their FA Cup clash with Fleetwood Town at Ashton Gate.
 
Bristol City head coach Lee Johnson said: "Bailey has a warrior spirit and represents a good signing for us. He’s 24 and has great Championship experience; he’s a tough, Australian international – he’s an old-fashioned stopper.

"Jamie McAllister (Under-23 coach) was with him at Preston and only had good things to say about him.”