(Reuters) - Newcastle United have brought in former Motherwell goalkeeper Mark Gillespie on a three-year contract to provide competition at St James' Park, manager Steve Bruce said on Friday.
The 28-year-old Newcastle supporter was born in the city and started his career with the Magpies at academy level before moving to Carlisle United in 2008 aged 16.
He played 180 games for the Cumbrians before joining Walsall in 2017 and Scottish Premiership side Motherwell in 2018 where he became first-choice, helping them finish third last season.
Bruce said: "We're very pleased to welcome Mark aboard. He was here when he was young and has gone on to do very well. He'll give us really healthy competition with our goalkeepers and we wish him the very best of luck."
Gillespie, a free agent after his contract at Motherwell expired, will back up first-choice keeper Martin Dubravka and Karl Darlow after long-serving Rob Elliot left the club.
"It's an unbelievable feeling for me to sign for Newcastle," he was quoted as saying on the Newcastle website https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/magpies-confirm-signing-of-goalkeeper-mark-gillespie.
"Being a supporter all my life and to be released at 16 was disappointing, but I have gone away, worked hard and now I'm back, and I can't wait to make the most of an opportunity every Geordie would dream of."
(Wrditing by Ken Ferris; Editing by Pritha Sarkar)