Carlisle United sign Stockport County's ex-Man City, Brighton and Accrington defender Ben Barclay

The centre-half has joined the Cumbrians on a season-long loan from the League Two new boys.

Barclay, 25, sealed his move to Brunton Park today and is likely to make his first appearance in Wednesday's pre-season friendly at Kendal Town.

The Manchester-born player has been allowed to leave his parent club on a temporary basis after their promotion from the National League.

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The big defender had an impressive loan spell with Yeovil Town last season and now adds to Paul Simpson's options at the back.

Simpson had made defence a priority area in the market and hopes the former Manchester City, Brighton & Hove Albion and Accrington Stanley man will bolster the Blues' rearguard in the 2022/23 season.

He has also raised the possibility that Barclay could eventually become a permanent addition.

Ben Barclay pictured playing for former club Accrington (photo: PA)

“He’s a player I’ve been aware of for a good few years," Simpson told the club website.

"He’s had a few loans out, he’s collected a number of appearances and he’s a player who I think can come in and help us.

“I talked about it last week that I’ve been looking to get some defenders into the club, and I’m hoping that Ben is the first of more to come.

"He’s a decent footballer, he’s strong in the aerial challenges and I just think we need more competition in the key areas.

“It’s a season long loan, with a view that there might be something more further down the line.

"The challenge for Ben now is to show us that he deserves to get in the team ahead of the other defenders we’ve got.

“He’s become surplus to what Stockport wanted because they’re bringing players in left, right and centre, and they’re having a real go for it. We've been able to step in and benefit from that situation.”

The centre-back has been on Stockport's books since last August.

He started out in Man City's academy before joining Brighton in 2013, going on to make his first-team debut for the Premier League club in a Carabao Cup tie against Southampton in 2018.

He had a loan spell at Notts County in 2018/19 before joining Accrington Stanley on a permanent deal.

After 43 appearances over two campaigns at the Lancashire club, he linked up with Stockport on a three-year deal, making 12 appearances in the first half of last season.

He then made a loan switch to Yeovil where he made 20 appearances in the second half of 2021/22, his team-mates including ex-Carlisle men Max Hunt and Olufela Olomola.

Big-spending Stockport recently signed Northampton star Fraser Horsfall, pushing Barclay further down the pecking order at Edgeley Park.

Barclay follows fellow new boys Owen Moxon, Ryan Edmondson, Sonny Hilton and Tomas Holy into Brunton Park this summer.