Premiership - Defender Sylvain Distin has signed for Portsmouth on a three-year contract after leaving Manchester City on a free transfer, while the club are also close to signing Sulley Muntari from Udinese. Pompey boss Harry Redknapp had been interested in signing Distin last season but the Frenchman, 29, opted to see out the final year of his deal at the City of Manchester Stadium.
He left the club on Tuesday claiming he was seeking a new challenge.
Distin said he was delighted to join an ambitious side and admitted: "Harry Redknapp was a big influence. I like the way his teams play and this is definitely a club on the way up.
"I was five years at Manchester City and made a lot of friends there. It was a tough decision but it was my decision and I am happy to stick by it.
"You have got to have ambition and for me that means trying to push for Europe. Portsmouth are capable of doing that, more than capable, and that's why I am here.
"When you are on a free transfer you are going to get a lot of offers but this is the one I wanted to take."
Boss Redknapp revealed he panicked when he heard that rivals from the Premiership's top four, with Liverpool one of the teams linked with a late bid, had moved in on Tuesday night.
Redknapp said: "I've been down that road a few times before and to be honest I panicked when I heard about it.
"But thankfully we struck an agreement with Sylvain and I am really pleased we've got him.
"Last year when we showed an interest in him his price was £5million so to get him for free has got to be great business for the club.
Meanwhile, Redknapp admitted midfielder Muntari is very close to signing.
The Ghana international will cost around £7m from Italian club Udinese and it's understood personal terms have already been agreed.
Redknapp said: "We are very close to getting him and I am keeping my fingers crossed.
"He is a fantastic midfielder, strong and quick and with an eye for goal and he is only 22."
Redknapp also confirmed he was interested in signing Middlesbrough's Mark Viduka, Charlton's Hermann Hreidarsson, and Titus Bramble, who has just been released by Newcastle.
He left the club on Tuesday claiming he was seeking a new challenge.
Distin said he was delighted to join an ambitious side and admitted: "Harry Redknapp was a big influence. I like the way his teams play and this is definitely a club on the way up.
"I was five years at Manchester City and made a lot of friends there. It was a tough decision but it was my decision and I am happy to stick by it.
"You have got to have ambition and for me that means trying to push for Europe. Portsmouth are capable of doing that, more than capable, and that's why I am here.
"When you are on a free transfer you are going to get a lot of offers but this is the one I wanted to take."
Boss Redknapp revealed he panicked when he heard that rivals from the Premiership's top four, with Liverpool one of the teams linked with a late bid, had moved in on Tuesday night.
Redknapp said: "I've been down that road a few times before and to be honest I panicked when I heard about it.
"But thankfully we struck an agreement with Sylvain and I am really pleased we've got him.
"Last year when we showed an interest in him his price was £5million so to get him for free has got to be great business for the club.
Meanwhile, Redknapp admitted midfielder Muntari is very close to signing.
The Ghana international will cost around £7m from Italian club Udinese and it's understood personal terms have already been agreed.
Redknapp said: "We are very close to getting him and I am keeping my fingers crossed.
"He is a fantastic midfielder, strong and quick and with an eye for goal and he is only 22."
Redknapp also confirmed he was interested in signing Middlesbrough's Mark Viduka, Charlton's Hermann Hreidarsson, and Titus Bramble, who has just been released by Newcastle.
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