Carlisle United defender Max Hunt has made a permanent move to National League side Yeovil.

The big centre-half had been on loan at Huish Park.

And now 21-year-old Hunt has completed a full-time switch to the Glovers "on undisclosed terms" after a year on United’s books.

Hunt, who has signed a deal until the end of next season, has impressed in four outings for Darren Sarll’s side so far, after heading to Somerset in search of regular first-team football.

Sarll told the media in Somerset last night that a permanent deal was looming and now it has been confirmed by the respective clubs.

The ex-Derby man has made just nine appearances for Carlisle and has found his path to the first-team blocked by the form of Aaron Hayden, Rhys Bennett and Rod McDonald this season.

With United also recently bringing in ex-Sunderland and Everton defender Morgan Feeney, head coach Chris Beech said it was right to allow Hunt to leave.

“Max has left the building,” Beech said.

“He’s come to us with great potential and left with great potential, and he’s a far better player now than when he was when we recruited him.

“He was unbelievable at supporting the first team but at the same time frustrated not to start more games.

“Within that, opportunity came for him to go out on loan and he’s really enjoyed it.

“When they made an official situation to take him permanently, I looked at where he is, and I do believe he will become a very dominant centre-half, but it might take him 50 Football League games to get there.

“I can’t offer him that, because to play in front of people like Aaron, Rhys, Rod and Morgan…it’s more likely he isn’t going to get that opportunity.

“I do believe he’ll still get where he needs to go, but he needs a vehicle to get there, and that is to actually play football.

“I think at Yeovil he’ll get the opportunity to do that more often, and then he might end up being what I believe he can be, a very dominant centre-half.”

Hunt made only three league starts after signing for Carlisle from Derby to reinforce defensive numbers at a time Jarrad Branthwaite was on his way to Everton.

Beech said the way Carlisle’s other centre-halves have performed since then has made things difficult for Hunt.

“That’s what progress is,” the Blues boss added.

“When you have a relationship with players and make sure we try and do things the right way, it’s understanding the right point…it’s like your children moving house, leaving home. It feels a bit that way.

“He [Hunt] has made massive strides on his ability to move his feet quicker, change direction faster, dominate the ball aerially more, jump – because he never really jumped when I first met him because he relied on his size – and he’s developed that power, his understanding of defending.

“The red zones in front of the goal he needs to still improve, but he will when he plays, and he will learn from those mistakes.

“But I can’t, in this position we’re in, play him in front of others, and I also can’t let him…learn on the job, where our possible points go down while he improves and the team’s dented.

“It is what it is at that point. It was the right thing to let him move on.”

Hunt could be involved for fourth-bottom Yeovil in their league game at Maidenhead tonight.

Their manager Sarll told BBC Somerset that United boss Beech and director of football David Holdsworth had been “wonderful to deal with” and that he sees a “real future” for Hunt.

“Max was desperate to come and play for Yeovil and loves it here,” he added. “I think it’s a really good signing.”