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Michael Morrison
Michael Morrison scored the last of his eight goals for Reading in a 2-1 win over Stoke City in April
League One side Portsmouth have signed former Reading centre-back Michael Morrison.

The 34-year-old, who has played more than 500 games in the Championship and League One, has agreed a one-year deal.

Morrison left Reading after three seasons in May, having spent the previous five years at Birmingham City.

He has also had spells at Leicester City, Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton Athletic after beginning his career with Cambridge United in non-league.

"He's a fantastic character and will be able to offer great support to the younger members of our group," Portsmouth boss Danny Cowley told the club website.

"Michael has been a captain pretty much everywhere that he's been and brings leadership qualities that will help drive our standards on and off the pitch.

"He's been very successful in the Championship and has played regularly in that division over the past few years.

"He can sense danger and has got an excellent ability to read play, while he loves to defend and his organisational skills are great."

'Still work for Pompey to do'
Analysis - BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator Andy Moon

Portsmouth have been clear their transfer strategy is focused on signing younger players whose values are likely to increase but there's always room in a squad for players who can come in and immediately make the team better.

Morrison has spent the past 10 years in the Championship and gives Pompey a strong-looking group of centre-backs, something that's important if Danny Cowley is to continue playing three central defenders.

The moves also means Haji Mnoga is likely to head out on loan - there will be no shortage of suitors following a good pre-season. He needs to play regular football if he's to continue his development.

There's still work for Pompey to do in the transfer market and Cowley remains concerned, in particular, by the lack of pace in his forward line.

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League One side Portsmouth have signed striker Dane Scarlett from Tottenham Hotspur on a season-long loan.

The 18-year-old made his first start for Spurs in the Europa Conference League last season, making nine first-team appearances in all.

"I see a real opportunity for me at Pompey," Scarlett told the club website.

"We'll be looking to win as many games as possible and personally, I'm looking to kick on and get some more minutes."

Scarlett came through Tottenham's youth ranks before signing his first professional contract with the club in 2021.

The teenager says being around first-team football in training has been invaluable.

"Getting to see - and compete against - some of the best players in the world every day in training has helped me."

"You can learn so much from Harry Kane just by watching him and everything he does on the pitch is perfect."

Scarlett played for England in this summer's European Under-19 Championship, scoring twice in the group stage and starting in the final as they beat Israel.

In all he has netted 12 goals in 14 appearances for England Under-19s.

'Pompey's frontline is taking shape'
Analysis - BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator Andy Moon

There's always an element of risk signing a player for their first loan spell but Scarlett is a gamble a number of clubs, including some in the Championship, were more than willing to take.

He's stood out for England's under-19s, who are European champions, and played for Spurs in the Europa Conference League last season.

Despite the struggles of Miguel Azeez last year, this move shows yet again that big clubs are willing to trust Danny Cowley with promising young players.

Pompey's frontline is taking shape, with Scarlett bringing some much-needed firepower, but they're still keen to bring in a couple of wingers.

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Portsmouth have signed midfielder Tom Lowery on a three-year contract following his departure from Crewe.

The 24-year-old scored 13 goals in 175 appearances for the Alex after making his debut in 2016 and helped them to promotion from League Two in 2019-20.

"He provides unrivalled energy and is very competent technically, so will bring a real creativity to our midfield," said boss Danny Cowley.

"At 24, he's still a young man and his ambitions are aligned with ours."

'Optimism builds around Fratton Park'
Analysis - BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator Andy Moon

While most of Portsmouth's summer additions have been about addressing positions of need, the signing of Lowery is a notable signing in an area where Pompey are already strong.

The conventional wisdom was that Lowery would end up in the Championship this summer and the fact he was available in August would suggest a second-tier move has fallen through.

But this is very much Pompey's gain as Danny Cowley continues to strengthen his squad and optimism builds around Fratton Park.

No departures are currently imminent but Lowery's arrival is likely to mean Ryan Tunnicliffe can depart if a suitable offer is received.

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Portsmouth have signed forward Josh Koroma on loan from Huddersfield Town until the end of the season.

The 23-year-old joined the Terriers in 2019 shortly before current Pompey manager Danny Cowley took the helm at the club.

He has scored 13 goals in 72 appearances for the Championship side since.

Koroma began his career with Leyton Orient and also spent time on loan with Rotherham United.

'It's been a good transfer window at Fratton Park'
Analysis - BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator Andy Moon

It was a nervy deadline day for Portsmouth - while there was confidence by the afternoon that they could land Koroma, it wasn't until nearly 22:00 BST that they got the green light that the deal could definitely happen.

Danny Cowley was desperate to add another attacking option and Koroma is a player he knows well from his time as manager at Huddersfield.

It's believed the 23-year-old had his heart set on a move to Pompey, with Championship clubs Coventry City and Rotherham United also interested in his signature.

While Portsmouth don't have the same squad depth as some of their League One promotion rivals there's no doubt it's been a good transfer window at Fratton Park, and the team looks significantly stronger than last season.

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League One club Portsmouth have signed defender Ryley Towler from Bristol City for an undisclosed fee.

The 20-year-old centre-back, who made five senior appearances for the Robins, spent the first half of the campaign on loan at League Two side AFC Wimbledon.

After scoring one goal in 24 outings for the Dons, Towler has agreed a three-and-a-half-year deal with Pompey.

He becomes the Fratton Park club's first signing of the January transfer window.

"Having someone with his skillset and ceiling to progress is great for this club, so it's nice to have him on board," Portsmouth sporting director Richard Hughes told the club website.

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Portsmouth have signed keeper Matt Macey on loan from Championship side Luton Town for the rest of the season.

The 28-year-old former Arsenal trainee becomes Pompey's second signing of the January window - and the first following John Mousinho's appointment as player-coach earlier in the day.

"I've been so impressed by his manner," Mousinho said. "Matt is a real leader. That's so important as a goalkeeper.

"He's an outstanding shot-stopper and a massive presence in goal," he added.

"He wants to come and play for this football club, which is a great thing when you're bringing loans in."

Macey, who was on the bench for Arsenal when they won the FA Cup in 2020, went out on loan to Accrington, Luton and Plymouth before moving north of the border to join Hibernian in the January 2021 window.

He then returned to Luton with a permanent move last summer - but has made just one early season Carabao Cup appearance.

Macey joins a Pompey side who sit 15th in the table, having not won in 10 League One games since 22 October.

Mousinho's men face Exeter City at home on Saturday looking to end a run of four straight losses, in all competitions.

Pompey's other January signing was defender Ryley Towler from Bristol City a fortnight ago.

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League One side Portsmouth have signed defender Di'Shon Bernard from Manchester United and striker Paddy Lane from Fleetwood.

Bernard, 22, who started in Chelsea's academy before joining United as a teenager, joins Pompey on loan.

He made his only first-team appearance in 2019 in the Europa League and spent last season on loan at Hull, making 28 appearances.

Lane, 21, has joined on a three-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee.

Lane was named League One's Young Player of the Season in 2021-22 and received his first call-up to the Northern Ireland senior squad in March 2022.

"He's a fantastic young player who can not only impact the squad now, but also has huge potential," Pompey boss John Mousinho told the club website.

"Paddy has a lot of guile and can beat players, while he has a wand of a left foot that our fans will love to see."