Striker Joe Garner has rejoined Carlisle United on an 18-month contract which will keep him at Brunton Park until the end of the 2023/24 season.
Garner, 34, first came to Carlisle from Blackburn on a loan deal in January 2007, and scored five goals in 18 appearances.
He was bpought for £140,000 in the summer of that year, and 14 goals in 35 games saw him linked with a string of clubs higher up the football ladder.
In the end it was Nottingham Forest who won the race for his signature for a club record fee of £1.14m.
He has gone on to enjoy a hugely successful career chalking up just under 150 goals with the likes of Preston, Rangers, Wigan, Ipswich and Forest.
It was at Preston where Garner helped Simon Grayson’s side to promotion from League One in 2014/15, firing 27 goals in a campaign which ended with play-off success.
He had a spell out of the country, with Apoel, before opting to come back to Fleetwood in the summer of 2021. He bagged eight goals in 42 appearances for the Cod Army.
Manager Paul Simpson said: “He’s a great addition to the squad and I’m really pleased that we’ve got it over the line. It’s taken a little bit of work but we think he’s going to complement what is already a strong group really well.
“Another massive thing about this is that he’s made it quite clear from the off that he wants to be here. The reason it’s taken so long isn’t because of the fact that he didn’t want to come, it’s the exact opposite.
“He wanted it sorted as much as we did but these things sometimes take a bit of time. He’s here now and I’m looking forward to working with him.
“I think he’ll be a really good person and character to have in the dressing room because he drives standards on and off the grass. I’m sure our supporters will be delighted to see him back.
“He adds a bit of nous and know-how. He brings a bit of nastiness, and a way of really causing problems, and along with all of that he’s also a really good striker.
“He’s different to the others we’ve got and I’ve said for a while that I wanted another experienced striker, and he certainly ticks that box.
“JK Gordon fills the space of a forward with pace which we were looking for, and we all know what our others forward bring, so Joe is going to add to that mix and give us options quite nicely.
“The signings we’ve made so far not only give everybody a lift, in terms of competition for places and the edge that bringing new people in gives you, but hopefully they’ll also help us to push on through these next 20-odd games.
“Joe is here to throw himself into this and he really does want to do well for the club.
“I don’t want anybody coming here thinking they’ve found themselves a short-term fix. I want players who are driven, and he definitely is.”
