Portsmouth sign Hayden Mullins and Pele

26 January 2009 10:37
Mullins has joined on a three-and-half-year-deal for an undisclosed fee while 21-year-old attacking midfielder Pele has signed on loan until the end of the season, with a view to permanent move. [LNB]Both players will go straight into manager Tony Adams' squad for the side's Premier League clash with Aston Villa at Fratton Park. [LNB]Adams has had a busy month in the transfer market with Jermaine Pennant joining on loan from Liverpool last week and Nadir Belhadj signing a permanent contract. Jermain Defoe and Lassana Diarra have also left the club. [LNB]Mullins' move comes just two days after his final appearance for Gianfranco Zola's side as a substitute in the 2-0 FA Cup win over Hartlepool. [LNB]The 29-year-old, who has spent the past five years at Upton Park after an £800,000 move from Crystal Palace, only became aware of Portsmouth's interest late on. [LNB]Speaking to the Portsmouth website, Mullins said: "It was a little bit of a shock. I trained on Sunday with West Ham after the game on Saturday and then it all happened very quickly, but I'm very pleased to have joined. [LNB]"It was a great experience to have worked under Gianfranco Zola but it's a great challenge to come here and work with some really talented players. [LNB]"I enjoyed my time at West Ham but I was there for five years and thought that maybe it was time for a change. Portsmouth are a club with a lot of history. They won the FA Cup last year, so I'm very excited to be here." [LNB]Pele, a Portugal Under-21 international, only joined Porto last summer after previously playing for Inter Milan and scoring in last year's Italian cup final. [LNB]Pele said: "It's always been an ambition of mine to play in England, to play in the Premier League. I've always watched English football, and the crowds are always great here. [LNB]"England is the home of football, so it's fantastic to get this opportunity." [LNB]Portsmouth executive chairman Peter Storrie admitted both deals were concluded quickly. [LNB]Storrie said: "Tony and I decided to move for Hayden on Saturday night. We got hold of West Ham on Sunday morning and I think they were a bit surprised that we wanted to get the deal done so quickly. [LNB]"Hayden's an experienced player who has played exceptionally well against us in the past. He's a guy with immense experience in the Premier League, and that's what we need in this situation. [LNB]"He wanted regular football, because he has been in and out of the West Ham side. [LNB]"Pele's an exciting young talent. He did well for Inter before joining Porto. But there was a change of manager at Porto, who switched it around a bit, and the boy was desperate to move. [LNB]"I spoke to him on Saturday evening and he was on the plane here within 24 hours, which tells you exactly about his eagerness. He's an expensive player, so it's a deal with an option to buy so we can both have a look at each other." [LNB][LNB]

Source: Telegraph