Former Sunderland and Everton defender Morgan Feeney has today been confirmed as Carlisle United's latest signing.

The 21-year-old has joined the Blues on a deal until the end of the season.

The big defender's move was the second to be announced by United centre-half Rhys Bennett today on his 12-hour charity live stream.

After revealing this morning's deal for striker Cedwyn Scott, Bennett again donned his suit to break the news of Feeney's move to fans.

Feeney was a free agent after recently leaving Sunderland following a five-month spell on Wearside.

He had joined the League One club after leaving Everton last summer.

Bootle-born Feeney, who has been capped by England up to Under-19 level, initially joined Everton from Liverpool at the age of seven.

He came through the ranks at Goodison Park and helped Everton's Under-23s win the Premier League 2 title in 2017.

He made his senior Toffees debut later that year against Atalanta in the Europa League.

A loan spell with Tranmere last January was cut short by injury, before Feeney left the Merseyside club in the summer.

His arrival gives United anothe defensive option at a time Rhys Bennett, Rod McDonald and Aaron Hayden are their frontline centre-halves, Max Hunt currently on loan at Yeovil.

Head coach Chris Beech said Feeney was a "natural defender" who is ready to kickstart a career that has been full of promise during his rise through youth football.

He said on United's website: “He’s been one of the shining lights of youth football for years. I remember him as 14-year-old playing for Everton, he was both a captain and a standout.  

“Morgan went on and captained England through the age groups, he actually played alongside George Tanner.

“When I first started this job Morgan was a player I enquired about with Everton and got a flat ‘no’ – they had no interest in letting him out.

“In terms of first team exposure, he hasn’t quite got going. He game time in the Europa League for Everton and had a loan spell with Tranmere in League One, but he picked up an injury.

“He ultimately found himself as a free agent and signed for Sunderland and got injured, coinciding with the end of his deal there, a change in ownership and a new manager.

“He’s 22 next month, which is a great age, back fit and raring to go. Sometimes circumstances work for you, and without the injury and short-term contact there would only be a slim chance he’d be coming to us. He’d probably be well under way with his career.

“At the moment he’s pure potential. Morgan knows that. It’s up to him to capitalise on that and show what a good player we know he is. He needs to do it where it counts, in first team in the Football League.

“In terms of football, he’s first and foremost a natural defender. He has a good reading of the game and that little bit extra to his technique. Coming from Everton, he carries those Premier League professional standards and traits which will strengthen our unit automatically.

“Morgan wants a career, he wants to get going, he wants success and he’s side-stepping other opportunities to come to us and be in the right environment."