Carlisle United beat the transfer deadline to complete the signing of Bradford City forward Omari Patrick.

The 23-year-old joined the Blues for an undisclosed fee in a deal confirmed just 15 miutes before the January window closed.

Patrick has signed an 18-month deal, which includes an option to extend it.

The pacy forward became the Cumbrians' second deadline-day arrival and their eighth of the January window.

Carlisle had been in the market for a forward to complete their January recruitment and Patrick last night emerged as their likely target.

The frontman - whose godfather is former Olympic sprint champion Linford Christie - has been on loan with National League side Wrexham this season, scoring five goals in 10 appearances.

He previously made six Bradford appearances this campaign, having joined the club from Barnsley in 2017, following a spell at Kidderminster.

He has made 34 appearances in total for the Bantams.

He has further athletics heritage as his father, Adrian Patrick, was a Commonwealth Games gold medallist with England in the 4x400m relay in 1994.

The frontman linked up with the Carlisle squad today ahead of tomorrow's League Two clash at Mansfield.

It has not been confirmed whether the Blues signed Patrick in time to be available for the game.

Speaking on the club website, head coach Chris Beech said: "We’re getting somebody who can run and who is very athletic.

“He comes from an unbelievable background and upbringing with a father who was a Commonwealth Games gold medal winner and his godfather is Linford Christie, so I don’t think it gets much better than that in terms of learning good habits and traits.

“He’s another young man who is at a very good age and who is ambitious about what he wants to achieve.

"He played in non-league and worked hard to get a great opportunity which led to him being signed by Barnsley, and the move to Bradford City followed on from that.

“Loan spells have given him good experience, and most recently he got five goals in 10 games with Wrexham, and he’s hungry for more."

Patrick started in non-league with Beaconsfield SYCOB before joinng Kidderminster.

Beech said he is a versatile player who has played on the wing and as a central attacker.

The United boss added: "We've been talking a lot about pace over the course of the last few weeks and he’s a player who has that naturally, and that brings with it an ability to press and run in behind.

"These are real qualities we can work with him on and develop further which, in turn, will make him a very good player for Carlisle United.

"His success at Wrexham came when Dean Keates put him right down the middle and he started to break through and behind defences, so that’s something else for us to possibly develop.

“His personality is excellent. He’s quite a quiet lad but he knows I want him to come to life when he gets onto the pitch and I want him to showcase and express his talents. We're all really looking forward to working with him."

Patrick had been signed at Bradford in 2017 during ex-Blues boss Greg Abbott's time there as head of recruitment.

At the time Abbott said Patrick had a "fantastic pedigree as an athlete," adding: "He's lightning quick, runs in behind and is good with both feet."

Patrick's arrival on deadline day followed the earlier addition of Marcus Dewhurst, the England Under-19 keeper who joined on loan from Sheffield United.

The Cumbrians offloaded Canice Carroll and Christie Elliott, the former recalled by parent club Brentford before joining Stevenage permanently, the latter leaving by mutual consent and then signing for Dundee.

United are understood to have been interested in another midfielder last night but there were no other arrivals before the 11pm deadline.

Nor were they able to secure moves for any other of their out-of-favour players, such as Olufela Olomola.

No move materialised for Harry McKirdy, meanwhile, despite fears United's top scorer could depart. The News & Star reported this week that there was no substance to speculation about interest in McKirdy.  

It means the Blues have added Patrick, Dewhurst, Elliot Watt, Max Hunt, Nick Anderton, Lewis Alessandra, Joshua Kayode and Callum Guy during January.

Anderton, Guy, Hunt and Patrick have all come in on 18-month deals.

Heading out of the club during the January window, along with Elliott and Carroll, were Jarrad Branthwaite to Everton, Hallam Hope to Swindon and Keighran Kerr on loan to Kendal. Elias Sorensen's loan from Newcastle was cut short earlier, in December.

The Blues also extended the contract of Gethin Jones to the end of the season and handed a new 18-month deal to Aaron Hayden in January.

The Cumbrians are left with six loan players - they can only name five in a matchday squad - those being Dewhurst, Watt, Olomola, Kayode, Ryan Loft and Nathan Thomas.