League Two side Carlisle United have today announced the signing of defender Archie Davies on a two-year deal from Dundalk for an undisclosed fee according to an official announcement on their club website and The Cumbrians social media pages.
Davies, 25, signed his first professional contract at Brighton at the age of 17 and made his first team debut in the EFL Cup against Aston Villa in 2019.
From Brighton Davies then spent two seasons in the football league with Crawley Town before joining Aldershot Town
He then made the decision to move over to Ireland to join League Of Ireland side Dundalk and was in the Team of the Year in 2023 after an exceptional year for the LOI side.
He joins Carlisle United having already featured in 22 games for Dundalk during the 2024 LOI season, which started in February.
What’s Been Said?
The Blues manager Paul Simpson spoke to the club’s official media said:
“It’s a position I’ve made quite clear I’ve been looking to fill. We’ve been working for weeks now to try and get this over the line so I’m really pleased it’s all done.
“We’ve done a lot of background work on him and he’s a player who is highly sought after in that area of the pitch, there were a lot of clubs after him so I’m delighted he’s chosen to come to us.
“Greg has been over a few times to watch him and we’ve had videos and data from him. We’ve spoken to people about him and done our background work.
“The challenge for Archie now is to transfer what he’s done over in Ireland back into the EFL. We think it’s a step up, but from what we’ve seen we think he’s more than capable of holding his own.
“We’ve done things properly with Dundalk and we’ve been straight with them all the way through. Greg has had conversations with the owner and the chief executive and I’ve had a conversation with Jon Daly the manager.
“They were in a bit of a tricky position because Archie’s contract was up at the end of their season in November and he wanted to try and test himself back in England. If we’d have waited another month we maybe could have signed him on a pre-contract and got him for nothing in January, but we didn’t feel it was fair to do it that way.
“We’ve spoken to the club and managed to agree a deal for him so we can take him straight away. Dundalk have been fantastic with the way they’ve dealt with it even though they were really reluctant to sell him.
“The bonus for us is that he’s coming in fully fit because he’s already played 22 games this season. We’re going to have to manage him over the season as much as we can so he doesn’t end up having an 80-game season and we wear him out.
“That’s why I want to try and have two players for each position. We’ve got Jack Ellis who has done a really good job when he’s been available, and Ben Barclay can slot into there if we need him to as well.”
Archie Davies himself said the following after the announcement of his move to The Cumbrians.
“I’m obviously really happy to get it over the line.
“I think it maybe took a couple more weeks than everyone would have liked, but I’m here now, obviously, overlooking the pitch, it looks in great nick and I’m really looking forward to getting to play on it.”
Speaking on his career so far, Archie said: “I started as a kid at Brighton, obviously worked my way through there.
“I had a couple of years at Crawley in the Football League, and then a short spell at Aldershot before I decided to go over to Ireland, where I’ve been for the last 18 months.
“I really enjoyed my time there. It was a good move for me and it obviously worked out in the end because I’ve done well enough to earn myself a move here.
“So, yeah, I’m really happy.”
Davies also said talking about his spell in Ireland in further detail
“Obviously, it was maybe a different route than I would have expected to take, but no, I was obviously really happy with it.
“It got me out of my comfort zone a bit. I was living a long way from home and living with teammates there or whatnot, but I felt really welcomed there. I thoroughly enjoyed my 18 months or so there, but yeah, I’m here now and I’m looking forward to this.”
“I like to get forward. I mean, both sides of the game, really, but I think my real strengths lie in attack.
“Like I said, lots of energy, lots of pace, and I like to think that I’ve got good delivery in wide areas also.”
When asked what his talks with the manager and owners were like, Davies said:
“Yeah, obviously, a bit weird. They’re in season there at the moment, so it was a challenge in itself, trying to focus on my performances there, but yeah, obviously, I didn’t really speak to the gaffer here until it was all agreed, because that’s fair enough as well. I didn’t want to step on any toes or anything, but yeah, obviously, when it was all agreed, the gaffer rang me up straight away and I had a good chat with him, and yeah, I’m looking forward to working under him now.”
The player was then asked:
“Why the move to Carlisle United?“
“I think just, obviously, the size of the club.
“The stadium’s massive. I’ve been here as a player before on the other side. I’m looking forward to having the fans on my side this time.
“I think you just look at the stuff going on around the club. Obviously, there’s a lot of excitement, and I think the recruitment so far this season’s looked very positive, and hopefully, I can add to that and add a bit of quality to the team as well.
“It’s an exciting project. I mean, obviously, it was a tough season last season, but there’s a strong aspiration to now get out of this league again and push on, and hopefully, we’ll be there or thereabouts come the end of the season.”
“It’s an exciting target for anyone, and it’s just working hard every day to achieve that little by little, game by game.”
Archie Davies joins Carlisle United having already featured for Dundalk on 22 occasions this term and adds depth to the full back department for Paul Simpson’s side.
“The positive is I’m fit. I’m ready to go. Hopefully, it gets me out of one or two pre-season runs, I’m hoping.
“But yes, look, I’ve been fit since my season started in February. I’m ready, I’ll be up and down from the get-go. So, yes, looking forward to it.”
“There’s one or two familiar faces, which is always nice, despite it being a long way from home for me. But yes, it’s always a little bit more comfortable knowing at least one or two, but I’m sure as days and weeks go by, I’ll form some relationships on and off the pitch.
“I played with Ben Barclay during my time at Brighton. Obviously, I know Georgie Kelly who used to play for Dundalk, and a few of the lads there spoke to me about him. Adam, one of the S&C coaches I worked with at Aldershot as well.
“So, yes, like I said, it’s nice to have even one or two familiar faces around.”
Finally, the blues seventh summer signing had the following message for United’s supporters.
“Just really looking forward to it and hopefully I can provide some good moments that will get you off your seats. Maybe I’ll add one or two goals to my game, I’m hoping. If not, I’ll be crossing the ball, I’ll be running up and down.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Where will Davies fit in for Paul Simpson’s side?
It’s obvious that following the managers comments he wants two players for every position this coming season and that Archie Davies will be fighting it out in the right full back position with Jack Ellis this season.
The manager also touched on the fact that Davies will be coming in match fit because the League Of Ireland begins in February and because of this he goes straight in to the match day squad for the blues’ second pre-season game tonight away to local side Kendal.