Defender Shaun Brisley checked in as Carlisle United's eighth summer signing and declared: I'm here for promotion.

The 26-year-old said he wants to help the Blues climb the Football League after agreeing a two-year deal.

Brisley said Keith Curle's sales pitch convinced him to reject other offers in favour of the Cumbrians.

The former Peterborough centre-half believes he can achieve success at Brunton Park.

Brisley said: "I spoke to a couple of other clubs, who offered me a contract, but I felt after speaking to Keith that this was the right option for me.

"I got really good vibes from Keith and his coaching staff when they explained what they want to do with the club. It was them who swayed my decision.

"Their ambitions to take the club forward met my ambitions. My ambition is to get promotions on my CV and I thought Carlisle was the right club for me to progress my career.

"I feel I'm at a good age and ready to kick on. I've still got aspirations of playing as high as I can. I feel in my position and my age I've still got a real opportunity to do that."

Brisley is the first defender to join Carlisle in a busy summer of recruitment, and after training with his new team-mates for the first time yesterday he is set to be involved in United's first pre-season friendlies this week.

He follows Nicky Adams, Joe McKee, Russell Penn, Jamie Devitt, Reggie Lambe, Shaun Miller and Mike Jones into the club, with Curle still chasing reinforcements in attack and in goal.

Brisley, who faced United twice last season whilst on loan from Posh to Northampton and Leyton Orient, said he is ready for a fresh start.

"I felt that was the case towards the end of the season before last, when I was told I wasn't really needed at Peterborough any more," he said.

"When you go out on loan it's difficult at my age. You don't mind it as a young lad, when you're still learning your trade, but when you've got a family you want to keep your main base, so it's nice to get somewhere, settle in and crack on.

"I've looked at who the manager has brought in and that helped me make my decision too. I feel he's strengthened well and I believe we've got a really good chance of getting promotion this season.

"A two-year deal shows me a vote of confidence from the manager and hopefully I can repay that trust."

Brisley, who played alongside Adams at Northampton last term, started out at home-town club Macclesfield before earning his big move to Posh in the Championship in 2012.

He made 93 appearances for the London Road club before being released at the end of last season.

He added: "Macclesfield was a great club to start out at. I owe a lot to John Askey in the youth team and [the late] Keith Alexander who gave me my debut.

"I'm a defender that likes to win headers, but I also like to think I'm comfortable on the ball and can play out from the back, which is hopefully what I'll bring to the team.

"I've played at Brunton Park before and scored here for Macclesfield in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy [in 2009]. I don't think I've won too many games here but hopefully that changes in a home shirt.

"The surface is always nice, and good for helping produce a footballing team."