Centre forward Charlie Wyke joins Bradford City
Carlisle United Football Club can confirm that striker Charlie Wyke has today joined League One promotion hopefuls Bradford City on a two-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee.Wyke, 24, scored 39 goals in his 89 appearances for the Blues which included a first ever league hat-trick in the 5-2 home win over Mansfield at the end of November.
Chief Executive Nigel Clibbens said: "As we said last week, we did what we could to convince Charlie to stay with us but he's come to the decision that his future is with Bradford.
"We didn't want or need to sell the player, but it's difficult to persuade someone to continue their development with you if they're being advised to move on.
"He's a player who was initially identified by the manager as one the club could work with and who had the potential to take the next steps within his career quickly.
"That proved to be the case and he has gained some valuable experience, first with scoring goals to help us with a battle against relegation and then doing the same to help his team at the other end of the table.
"We're sorry to see him go but the money received from this transfer will now go towards helping Keith and his staff in the transfer market going forward from here."
The Cumbrians signed the popular forward on an 18-month deal, for a small fee, during the January 2015 transfer window. This was extended, following an excellent first year with the club, until the summer of 2018.
Wyke came through the youth ranks with Middlesbrough and enjoyed loan spells with Kettering, Hartlepool and Wimbledon following the signing of a three-year professional deal at the Riverside in 2011. He spent the first four months of the 2014/15 season on loan at Hartlepool where he scored four goals in his 14 appearances.
Charlie leaves with the very best wishes of everyone at the club.