Former Carlisle United midfielder Kyle Dempsey has agreed a two-year deal with League Two Port Vale.
West Cumbrian Dempsey, 30, who hails from Maryport, had spent the last three-and-a-half seasons at Bolton Wanderers where he made 161 appearances.
He was a member of Bolton’s promotion from League One last season and was also part of the side that clinched the EFL Trophy at Wembley in 2023, scoring Bolton’s opening goal in their 4-0 win over Plymouth,
A product of the Carlisle youth academy he played 47 times for the Blues before joining Huddersfield Town for an undisclosed fee in 2015.
With chances limited with the Terriers he moved to Fleetwood Town on loan in 2016 and signed a three year deal at the end of that first season.
He went on to play 118 league games in League One for Fleetwood, and after a brief 11-game loan stay with Peterborough signed for Gillingham in 2020 and was made captain.
After 61 games and nine goals he was signed by Bolton in January 2022 for a reported £150,000 but has now moved on after completing his contract.
He is relegated Port Vale’s fourth signing so far, following defender Jasper Moon, goalkeeper Jackson Smith and midfielder Matthew Craig.
The Port Vale manager Jon Brady told the club website Dempsey’s qualities were the kind they were looking to build the team around.
He added: “He’s fiercely competitive, a natural leader and someone who sets high standards every single day.”
