Portsmouth make double swoop
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Article summary
Portsmouth FC have completed the double signing of Charlton Athletic FC defender Djimi Traoré and Stade Rennais FC midfielder Arnold Mvuemba.
Article body
Loan until summer
Mvuemba, 21, has joined on loan from Stade Rennais FC until the summer following a successful trial and the Premiership side have an option to sign him at the end of the season on a permanent deal should he prove to be a success at Fratton Park. Traoré, meanwhile, arrives on a two-and-a-half year contract from Charlton Athletic FC, who have replaced the full-back with Manchester City FC's Ben Thatcher.
On the move again
Traoré's move to Portsmouth ends his short stay at Charlton, whom he joined only last summer from Liverpool FC. A member of Liverpool's 2005 UEFA Champions League-winning team, the 26-year-old was sent off on his Charlton debut and suffered a hairline fracture to his leg in his third appearance at Charlton, who lie 19th in the Premiership.
Thatcher to Charlton
While Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp will hope these two additions can help his side's push for a European place next season – they are presently sixth in the table – his Charlton counterpart Alan Pardew has used the money received for Traore, believed to be around €1.5m, to fund the €750,000 purchase of 31-year-old left-back Thatcher.