Blow for League of Ireland hopefuls Derry City as Carlisle United confirm signing of midfielder
Former Manchester City prospect Will Patching is League Two bound.
Carlisle United have confirmed the signing of midfielder Will Patching from Derry City on a two-and-a-half-year contract.
The deal will be finalised once the January transfer window opens, bringing Patching’s three-season spell at the Ryan McBride Brandywell to an end.
The 26-year-old had been in the League of Ireland since the start of the 2020 season, when he arrived at Dundalk from Notts County.
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After a successful loan spell at Derry during the 2021 campaign, he completed a permanent switch in time for the start of the 2022 season.
Carlisle head coach Mike Williamson hailed the signing of Patching, saying: “Will is a really exciting signing, he brings experience and a technical quality that will improve us.
“He brings a skillset that will get fans excited, we just need to manage him over these next few weeks and almost get another pre-season into him to make sure he’s ready to go.
“He’s been finished his season in Ireland for over a month, so we’ll need to do some work with him to get him back up to speed.
“We’ve managed to beat off competition from a number of other clubs to get him in with us so we’re delighted.”
Patching spent 14 years at Manchester City - from the age of six to 20 - before moving to Notts County in 2018.
A former England underage international, he made 150 appearances in Irish football.
Carlisle sporting director Rob Clarkson added: “There was a lot of interest in Will both in England and over in Ireland, so we are really pleased he has chosen to join Carlisle United.
“He is a very talented midfield player and one I am sure the fans will enjoy watching when he officially joins us in January.”
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