Carlisle United can confirm that we have today signed midfielder Kelvin Etuhu on a two-year deal which keeps him at Brunton Park until the summer of 2019.
Nigerian-born Etuhu, 28, started his career as a youngster with Manchester City where he went on to score one goal in his 15 senior appearances.
He enjoyed loan spells with Rochdale, Leicester City and Cardiff City during his time with the Premier League giants but joined Michael Appleton at Portsmouth at the end of 2011 for an extended trial period.
He was offered a half-season contract during the January transfer window and quickly accepted the switch. He played 13 games and scored one goal during his time with the Fratton Park outfit, but made a move to join Barnsley on a free transfer when that season came to a close.
Two years and over 50 appearances followed at Oakwell before he joined Bury in the summer of 2014. He scored four goals in 91 appearances which spanned a successful three-year spell with the Shakers.
Manager Keith Curle said: "He has physical presence and he has very good dynamics. He can handle a football and he can play in a variety of different positions. He can sit in a holding two, or as the holding one, and he can also work within a two or three in more advanced positions.
“Part of what we want to help him to add to his armoury is that he needs to score more goals and play more games on a consistent basis. He has the key attributes and the profile of a very good player, but he needs to bring all of it together through a number of full and successful seasons in a team that's doing well."
“His work ethic is good and he's defence-minded in the way he approaches the game," he continued. "The good thing is that he can cover the pitch and he has discipline in the way he plays. This is an opportunity for him to get into a team which is looking to make an impact in the top half of the division again this season.
“We have some fantastic competition for places in the midfield area and that’s what we want down the whole spine of the team. There are players still with us who performed very well and who achieved good targets last year, and that needs to be replicated this time round. Adding hungry and determined players like Kelvin will help to push us on to achieve that.”
Kelvin Etuhu's home and away shirts are now available to sponsor. Contact Katie Mitchell in the Commercial Department on 01228 554 155 or email katie.mitchell@carlisleunited.co.uk for more details.