Carlisle defender agrees to join Crewe as of July 1st after agreeing personal terms.

Crewe Alexandra boss David Artell has made his second signing of the summer by agreeing terms with Carlisle United defender Michael Raynes. Raynes will join the club as of July 1st. Raynes follows Jordan Bowery to the Alexandra Stadium as Artell begins to reshape his squad for the coming season.

The Manchester-born Raynes has agreed personal terms on a two-year deal and the club will have a further year option.

Raynes, 29, began his career with Stockport County and made his debut as a 17-year-old in December 2004. He left the Hatters for Scunthorpe United in the January transfer window of 2010 and he went on to make 37 appearances for the Iron before joining Rotherham United in the summer of 2011.

Raynes later had spells at Oxford United and Mansfield before joining Carlisle United in May 2015. He made 97 appearances for the Cumbrians, including 48 last season, as Keith Curle’s side reached the play-offs. They were eventually beaten 6-5 on aggregate by Exeter City in their two-legged semi-final, losing in injury-time to Jack Stacey’s winning goal.

Curle was keen to keep the experienced centre-half at Brunton Park, but Raynes has chosen to sign for Crewe in July.