Leo Duru joins Carlisle United on a one-year contract
Leo Duru has signed for Carlisle United on a one-year contract with the option of a further year after impressing on a pre-season trial. The 21-year-old former Blackburn Rovers and United States Under-20 defender is the Cumbrians' sixth summer signing, according to the club. The National League club confirmed the move on 25 July 2026, with the deal also covered by the BBC. Related coverage sits with other developing stories on BlasterPost's True Crime & Unsolved Mysteries hub.
Key Takeaways
- Leo Duru has joined Carlisle United on a one-year contract with the option of a further year.
- The 21-year-old former Blackburn Rovers defender becomes Carlisle's sixth summer signing after a successful trial.
- He is a United States Under-20 international with loan experience at Barrow and San Diego FC.
- Head coach Rob Elliot praised his energy, one-on-one defending and attacking threat.
- The move remains subject to ratification from The FA and the National League.
Who is Leo Duru and why does this signing matter?
Leo Duru, 21, was released by Blackburn Rovers earlier this summer when his contract ended. Carlisle United said he impressed in training and in pre-season friendlies against Queen of the South, Motherwell and Darlington.
Manchester-born, he started at Manchester United before joining Blackburn at the age of ten. He made his senior Rovers debut in August 2024 in a 6-1 EFL Cup win over Stockport County.
Loan spells followed at Barrow, where he played eight times and scored his first senior goal in March 2025 against Accrington Stanley, then at MLS side San Diego FC and USL Championship club Birmingham Legion. The BBC noted two substitute appearances for San Diego in Major League Soccer in 2025. He has also earned three United States Under-20 caps through his Philadelphia-born mother.
What did Rob Elliot say about Leo Duru?
Carlisle head coach Rob Elliot told the club website that Leo Duru had done really well in games and training. He described him as high-energy, a good one-on-one defender who also creates a real attacking threat.
Elliot added that Duru had been a pleasure to work with and would be a great addition on and off the pitch, saying the club looked forward to seeing him develop in the squad.
Sporting director Marc Tierney said Carlisle had tracked the player since last season and that he had excelled in pre-season with pace, athleticism and commitment.
Was a Leo Duru deal already expected?
Days before the announcement, head coach Rob Elliot told reporters Carlisle were set to offer a deal to a trialist who had impressed, comparing the path to Harvey Macadam's arrival the previous year. He did not name the player when asked about Leo Duru.
Elliot also said injury concerns could force one or two additions, with defenders Morgan Feeney and Bevis Mugabi and striker Luke Armstrong among those expected to miss the start of the season. Confirming Duru as the sixth summer signing gives Carlisle another right-sided option as that recruitment push continues.