Pompey unveil £11million striker Crouch
JoePepler/GettyImages
Peter Crouch (R) signs for Pompey, alongside chief exec Peter Storrie
England international Peter Crouch has completed his £11million move to Portsmouth from Liverpool.
Crouch underwent a medical on Friday morning and signed a four-year contract
before he was officially unveiled at a press conference.
The England striker scored 19 goals in 39 matches in his first spell at Portsmouth in the 2001/02 season before moving on to Aston Villa and then Southampton.
The 27-year-old's return to Fratton Park brings and end to his three-year stay at Liverpool and he rejoins a much changed Portsmouth to the one that he left.
'This club is going places and they can match my ambitions,' the 6'7" striker said following his third reunion with manager Harry Redknapp.
'It's fantastic to be back,' Crouch added. 'I believe Harry gets the best out of me and think the best years of my career can be here.'
'The chance of regular first team football was part of the appeal. I know I'll have to work hard to prove myself in training, but I believe my best years are in front of me.'
Redknapp said: 'When I first mentioned Peter to (Portsmouth chief executive) Peter Storrie last year, I didn't think we'd get him.
'We all know what a fantastic place Liverpool is and what a fantastic place it is to play football.
'Peter Storrie has worked hard and delivered our man. I had no need to speak to him (Crouch) because I know him well and I know what he's about,' said Redknapp, who previously coached the player in his first spell at the club and during his time at Southampton.
'He'll be a real threat here, a real handful. He has great ability and is a tall lad so you can drop balls off him and he's great at bringing people into play.
'There's no reason why he can't get a lot of goals here this year.'
Redknapp also predicted that England boss Fabio Capello would be a regular visitor to Fratton Park as the ranks of established internationals at the club continues to grow.
'When you look at our team we have David James, Glen Johnson, Sol Campbell, Peter and Jermain Defoe.
'We have five players he'll want to keep an eye on this year.' |