Bristol City's wantaway centre-back Richard Keogh signed a

two-year deal with League One leaders Carlisle United yesterday

to end a protracted transfer saga.

The 22-year-old former Stoke City trainee joined the Robins

in 2005 and went on to captain the Republic of Ireland

Under-21s in October 2006.

But the 6ft defender failed to settle with City, despite

being named the club's young player of the year in 2006-07, and

refused to extend his contract at Ashton Gate.

Loan spells at Huddersfield Town, Carlisle and Cheltenham

Town followed last season, with Keogh last featuring for City

in the League at Carlisle in April 2007.

This summer he went on trial at Championship rivals

Doncaster Rovers, before heading further north to sign for the

Cumbrians. The defender impressed during his seven-match loan

stint last Christmas and made the permanent switch to Brunton

Park yesterday for an undisclosed fee, believed to be lower

than City's original asking price.

Keogh, who played 34 games for City and scored five goals,

was out of contract but the club were entitled to a fee as he

is under 24.

Carlisle manager John Ward said: "I'm absolutely delighted

to have added Richard to the squad.

"It is particularly good to sign a player we know, which

means there won't be any bedding in period."

Ward said the deal had been in the making for some time

after the player proved a hit with his new team-mates, not just

the management.

He said: "Richard made a good impression when he was here

last season. Quite unusually for a loan player, all the players

took him out for lunch the day before he went back to Bristol

City, whereas many loan players just come and go.

"He had made himself a real favourite in the group and the

boys will be pleased we have brought him back. He is a young

player who wants to do a lot in his career and hopefully he can

do it with us."

Johnson has had defensive worries after losing Christian

Ribeiro to a serious knee injury and Jamie McCombe to a

fractured cheekbone in the past fortnight.

But on Monday the City manager signed Andy Webster on loan

from Rangers to plug the defensive hole left by the 6ft 5in

McCombe and he wished Keogh well in his future career.

He said: "He's been on his way for a long time now. We wish

him all the best and hope he does well."