Carlisle United have completed the signing of Adam Desbois from Gateshead, the clubs confirmed on Tuesday. The 25-year-old goalkeeper has agreed a two-year contract with an option for a further year, with the fee for the move not disclosed.
From Gateshead to Brunton Park
Desbois joined Gateshead in March, arriving from National League South side Slough Town, and quickly established himself as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper during a challenging run in the National League. He featured in 12 league matches for Gateshead and kept five clean sheets, performances that played a part in the club avoiding relegation.
One of his notable displays came at Brunton Park in April, where he produced a series of important saves to help Gateshead earn a goalless draw against Carlisle — the very club he has now joined.
Manager reconnects with former player
Carlisle’s manager, Rob Elliot, said Desbois was a player he knew well and had the qualities to fit the style the club wants to play. In a club statement Elliot praised his technical ability, shot-stopping and comfort on the ball.
"Adam is a goalkeeper we know well. He has excellent technical qualities, is a very good shot-stopper and is comfortable with the ball at his feet, which gives him the ability to play the way we want to play."
He added that Desbois had demonstrated his quality consistently at this level and that the club were looking forward to helping him develop further.
Career path and recent form
Born in Reading, Desbois came through the academies at Reading and Brighton & Hove Albion before gaining senior experience with Cheshunt and Hampton & Richmond Borough. Earlier in the 2025/26 season he made 33 league appearances for Slough Town in the National League South prior to his move to Gateshead in March.
Those figures underline the amount of competitive game time the goalkeeper has accumulated across the last two seasons, a factor likely to have influenced Carlisle’s decision to recruit him as they strengthen their squad.
Squad implications for Gateshead and Carlisle
For Gateshead, the departure of Desbois removes a goalkeeper who had cemented a run in the side during the closing stages of the season. The club must now consider how to replace a player who contributed to five clean sheets from 12 appearances during a fight to remain in the National League.
Carlisle, meanwhile, bring in a young keeper with both non-league and National League experience. The arrival coincides with other reshuffling in the goalkeeper department at Brunton Park: Carlisle recently saw Gabriel Breeze depart to Cambridge United, and Elliot’s signing of Desbois appears aimed at maintaining competition and depth at the position.
| Stat | Figure |
|---|---|
| Gateshead league appearances (2025/26) | 12 |
| Clean sheets for Gateshead | 5 |
| Slough Town league appearances (2025/26) | 33 |
The move will be watched closely by Gateshead supporters, for whom Desbois’s short spell offered promising signs, particularly his ability to perform under pressure during the run-in. The club’s recruitment over the coming weeks will be important as they prepare for the next campaign.
- Desbois joins Carlisle United on a two-year deal with an option for an extra year.
- He made 12 league appearances for Gateshead, keeping five clean sheets.
- Previously made 33 league appearances for Slough Town earlier in the season.
The transfer is another example of the close ties within the north-west and north-east non-league and lower-league systems, where managers and players frequently reconnect as clubs push to balance ambition and budget. For Gateshead, the immediate task is to identify a suitable replacement and ensure the squad remains competitive.
Further announcements are expected from both clubs as they continue to shape their squads ahead of the new season.
