Portsmouth Football Club News

• Nickname:Pompey
• Founded:1898
• Manager:Michael Appleton

• Ground:Fratton Park
• Capacity:19,179

Pompey: Defoe only on loan

03 Feb 2008 - 14:24:39

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Portsmouth have confirmed that they have signed England striker Jermain Defoe initially on a loan basis, with a permanent deal to be completed later in the week.

Defoe made a goalscoring start to his Fratton Park career with a strike in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Saturday, before the club confirmed that his permanent arrival from Spurs has yet to be finalised.

A Pompey spokesman commented: "The Jermain Defoe transfer was done as an initial loan because of time constraints.

"The full documents will be signed and registered this week and this is a standard method when you have little time."

Defoe's arrival should have seen Benjani Mwaruwari join Manchester City, but that deal is also up in the air after the Citizens failed to submit the required paperwork before midnight on transfer deadline day.

Twenty-five-year-old Defoe had said after his successful Pompey debut: "We could have won it in the end, although I think that would have been a bit rough on Chelsea.

"I thought I would score again when I got through and chipped it over the keeper. Unfortunately it dropped just wide.

"I had another chance earlier and got tackled. Then I lifted my head and put one over the crossbar, but although you'll always regret things like that, I'll take the one goal and I'm happy.

"I've come here to score goals and help the team get three points every week. Hopefully that's just the start, but we showed that we have a lot of quality in the side."