Another defender in

Last updated : 04 July 2019 By Paddock Pundit

Carlisle United are delighted to confirm that central defender Nathaniel Knight-Percival has today agreed a one-year deal which keeps him at Brunton Park until the summer of 2020.

Enfield-born Knight-Percival, 32, has spent the last three seasons with Bradford City where he made 135 appearances, predominantly as a left-sided central defender.

His versatility has also seen him cover a number of other positions, including left back.

 

Manager Steven Pressley said: “He's a player we've been pursuing for some time so it's been a little bit of a slow burner.

"I met him about six weeks ago. I'd done a lot of work on him and I got a really good feeling from him. 

"He's had a number of options and a number of things to consider, so he's taken the summer to decide on what it is he wants to do. 

"I invited him up here last week so he could have a look around at what we can offer him and I think that cemented it. He was hugely impressed with the facilities and thankfully he informed us this week that he would be joining us."

"I think it's a great bit of business for the club," he added. "He's 32 and he's played an enormous amount of League One games over the last three years. 

"During those years of being a near ever-present he's reached the play-offs and he's gained a lot of experience. He ticks many boxes and he's another who isn't just a good player, he's also a good character.

"He's very athletic, he has a great jump and he has very good mobility. He's a good reader of the game, and that comes with experience. I think he's a great fit for this club."

"We set out to sign three left-sided players and we've achieved that, so I'm really pleased," he continued. "We need to complete the final part of the jigsaw on the right hand side of our defence, and we have Tyrone [Duffus] in the building who we're looking at as part of a trial. There's no guarantee for him, but he's working hard at the moment.

"I've spoken a lot about stabilisers in the right areas. With Nathaniel and Byron in the centre, they are two who fit that bill, and we have the keepers behind them to provide the extra base. 

"With Mike Jones in the midfield area we get a good quartet, which I think is vital to any team. With this business done we're really happy with how we're progressing just now, but we are having to be a little bit more patient with the front areas.

"That work will be ongoing to add to the good news this signing brings us today."

The all-action defender started his career in non-league with Histon and made the move up the ladder to join Wrexham in 2010.

He took his first step into league football with Peterborough where he made 32 Championship appearances during the 2012/13 campaign. Over 50 appearances with the Posh included an EFL Trophy victory over Chesterfield in March 2014.

A move to Shrewsbury followed that summer and he made 76 appearances for the Salop during his two-year stay, which included a five-month spell as club captain between January and May 2016.

His June 2016 move to Bradford was initially for two seasons, but his performances earned him a contract extension in October 2017.