Former Carlisle United favourite Richard Keogh has a new club - months after his controversial exit from Derby.

The defender has signed for League One outfit MK Dons on a two-year deal.

It sees the 33-year-old back in football after having his contract terminated by Derby when Keogh was involved in a car accident along with Rams team-mates.

He was a passenger in the car driven by fellow former Carlisle player Tom Lawrence which crashed into a lamppost after a night out. Lawrence had earlier struck a car driven by team-mate Mason Bennett.

Keogh suffered a serious knee injury in the crash and was sacked by Derby for gross misconduct. Lawrence and Bennett admitted drink-driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident and were each ordered to carry out 180 hours' unpaid community service, as well as being banned from driving for two years.

Keogh is said to have had other offers but opted to join Russell Martin's Dons, for whom he hopes to be back to fitness in October after a long period of rehabilitation.

On the Dons website Martin said: “Once I knew [Keogh] was available I was desperate to bring him in.

"I know how much he’ll bring on and off the pitch, I think he’s exactly what we need in terms of the dressing room, and I think he’ll bring as much off the pitch as he will on it. 

"He probably turned down more lucrative offers to play here and, for me, it’s a massive signing."

Keogh said: "For myself it's been a long time coming but once I spoke to Russ and the guys and heard about their vision, it was the right thing for me.

"I'm a hungry guy who's missing football and I'm looking forward to getting back out there."

The Republic of Ireland international made 95 appearances in two Carlisle spells from 2007-10.