CARLISLE United have agreed a deal to sign Scottish goalkeeper Jude Smith on a two-year-deal.

The 21-year-old will join the Blues from Newcastle following the expiration of his contract with the Magpies at the end of June. 

Smith came through the ranks at Celtic before moving to East Fife as a teenager.

 The young goalkeeper then moved to Newcastle in the summer of 2022, where he went on to represent the North East club in the EFL Trophy and Premier League 2.

Smith has also represented Scotland Under-21s.

"Jude is a goalkeeper we've had our eye on for a while," Manager Paul Simpson said on the club's website after the announcement of Jude's arrival. 

"He was sought after when he left Scotland as a young lad but Newcastle won the race for him. 

"We've followed his progress since then so we're really pleased to get him in the building now. He's a good addition to the goalkeeping department and I'm quite sure he'll add good competition for Gabe and Harry. 

"We'll have a look at all three of them in pre-season, nobody is guaranteed to play."

Smith will become Carlisle United's second signing of the summer transfer window when it officially opens on Friday, June 14, after the Blues re-signed center-half Aaron Hayden on a two-year-deal.

The 27-year-old moved back to Brunton Park following his release from Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's Wrexham AFC after first playing for the Blues between 2019 to 2021.

With two new faces through the doors at Brunton Park, the Blues are continuing the 'rebuild' of their playing squad as they prepare for their return to League Two following last season's relegation from the third tier. 

Speaking previously to the News & Star's Jon Colman, Blues chief executive Nigel Clibbens asserted that the club was working on 'a lot of things' behind the scenes, while also working to get the best out of its current crop of players. 

He said: "As you'd expect, there's a lot going on behind the scenes.

“We understand that the squad needs a rebuild, everybody understands that. It needs new people to bring new life, new energy to it.

"But we've also got a number of good players who we've acquired in the last window and in previous windows who've proved that they can be successful in this league [League Two]."