The long-anticipated recruitment of the 20-year-old striker was confirmed on deadline day after he shook off the effects of a recent ankle injury.
Wheatley followed Newcastle duo Harrison Ashby and Joe White to Valley Parade amid seven new faces in all.
Graham Alexander filled City’s matchday loan quota with Louie Sibley and Paul Mullin from the Championship.
It can be a fierce market to borrow players from higher-end clubs, particularly the younger ones still on their development journey.
So the sight of the likes of Tayo Adaramola and Scott Banks flourishing during loan stints from Crystal Palace has firmed up City’s reputation as an appealing go-to destination.
United recalled Wheatley from Northampton at the start of the window because they wanted to test him again – and the Bantams fitted the bill.
Alexander said: "I don't go around canvassing other clubs about what they think of us but football's a village, there's a lot of communication between clubs, players, agents, staff and everything.
"If you've been in the game a certain amount of time you build up a reputation and a knowledge of what people are.
"It's not us saying it, but if other clubs are, I believe it's genuine and another club might pick up on it.
"I believe other clubs will loan us players because we've had success with loan players - before my time as well - and it's an environment that probably tests young players to a level that might help when they go back to their senior club.
“That’s because of the pressure on Bradford City, the crowds we play in front of and the importance to win because of the position we're in.”
Harrison Ashby is one of two loan players from Newcastle (Image: Thomas Gadd)
Premier League clubs employ specialist loan managers to vet where the players are sent, so they can be pickier with their choice of club. Building that trust is vital for City with so much competition.
Alexander added: "They care for their players and their investment in the players and they've probably had these players from eight years-old so it's not just, 'See you later.'
"They're going to do their homework, and I think that's good because us as clubs have to have a real solid profile and reputation to sit in front of (loaning) clubs and be genuine and authentic.
"Everyone analyses a lot of stuff now because you don’t want to make mistakes, so it's good behaviour from the parent club and I think it keeps us level-headed and makes sure we do the right thing.
"If a Premier League club asks us what we do or comes and observes us, they see good habits, good environments and hopefully think it's a good place to be. We all aspire to be the best version of ourselves.
"I don't know what other clubs think of us, but I do think we have a good reputation as a club."
Kayden Jackson made his full debut against Doncaster after making his permanent move from Derby and Mullin got a half-hour run-out from the bench. With Wheatley adding to the mix, City have attacking reinforcements again after losing Will Swan and Antoni Sarcevic to injury.
"We need the squad to succeed,” said Alexander. “We've been hard hit with Sarce missing, with Swanny missing, two of our top scorers.
"Any team at any level missing two of your top goalscorers - not just one but two of them - it's going to hamper the feeling as well as your productivity.
"But I thought Kayden and Mulls coming in on Friday, they gave everyone, not just with their quality, but I think they gave everyone an extra five per cent as well mentally.
"I feel we always carry a punch as a team. We can be in a slugfest, a really tight game, and we've always got a punch that can knock out the opponent.
"I think we've probably missed that in the last couple of games. But I think we had that again on Saturday.”