Goalkeeper Ben Williams today finally completed his transfer to Colchester United for a fee of £60,000.

Carlisle United have also negotiated a 25 per cent sell-on clause as part of the deal, should Williams subsquently be sold by the Essex club.

The 26-year-old keeper, who began his career as a youngster at Manchester United, had been signed for free by Carlisle United on a three-year deal last summer after his contract at Crewe ran out.

He played the first 13 games of last season before losing his place in October, first to Ben Alnwick and then to Tim Krul, who both arrived at Brunton Park as loan signings.

Williams eventually regained the number one spot in late January, playing the last 20 games of the season, In all he made 35 starts for the Blues, keeping five cleansheets, including three in the league.

Carlisle have already replaced him, by signing former Chelsea goalkeeper Lenny Pidgeley on a free after his release by Millwall.

Pidgeley, 25, will be challenged for the number one goalkeeper's position for the new season by Adam Collin, who has also joined the Blues this summer, arriving from Workington Reds.