Carlisle United have signed trialist goalkeeper Max Crocombe on a one-year deal.

The New Zealand Under-23 international has joined the Blues permanently after impressing on trial.

Crocombe, who featured in friendlies against Bradford and Penrith, will join the squad for this season's League Two opener at Portsmouth.

His arrival ends a summer-long search for a keeper to compete with regular No1 Mark Gillespie.

Crocombe was the latest in a string of trialists to be assessed by Keith Curle and keeper coach Simon Tracey.

The 6ft 4in player completed his move to Brunton Park today after negotiating his release from Oxford, where he was under contract.

Curle said he had been pleased with Crocombe's impact since joining up with the Blues on trial late last week.

"There are attributes in his game that I like and Simon has given me positive feedback about how he has done," the Blues boss said.

He will travel with the squad to the south coast tomorrow and is likely to be on the bench at Fratton Park.