Portsmouth sign City’s Distin

LONDON – Portsmouth have won the race to sign Manchester City defender Sylvain Distin on a free transfer, manager Harry Redknapp announced yesterday.

The highly regarded French centre-back has agreed a three-year contract at Fratton Park after leaving City on Tuesday claiming he needed a fresh challenge. Redknapp had been interested in signing Distin last season but the 29-year-old opted to see out the final year of his deal at the City of Manchester Stadium.The Portsmouth manager spoke of his relief at having beaten off interest from several Premiership sides including Liverpool who had moved in with a late bid.Redknapp said: “Thankfully we struck an agreement with Sylvain and I am really pleased we’ve got him.”Last year when we showed an interest in him his price was five million so to get him for free has got to be great business for the club.”I have been an admirer for a long time.He’s a fantastic player, left-sided and good in the air and very powerful.”Distin said it had been a tough decision to leave the club.”I was five years at Manchester City and made a lot of friends there.But you have got to have ambition and for me that means trying to push for Europe.Portsmouth are capable of doing that, more than capable, and that’s why I am here.Nampa-AFPRedknapp had been interested in signing Distin last season but the 29-year-old opted to see out the final year of his deal at the City of Manchester Stadium.The Portsmouth manager spoke of his relief at having beaten off interest from several Premiership sides including Liverpool who had moved in with a late bid.Redknapp said: “Thankfully we struck an agreement with Sylvain and I am really pleased we’ve got him.”Last year when we showed an interest in him his price was five million so to get him for free has got to be great business for the club.”I have been an admirer for a long time.He’s a fantastic player, left-sided and good in the air and very powerful.”Distin said it had been a tough decision to leave the club.”I was five years at Manchester City and made a lot of friends there.But you have got to have ambition and for me that means trying to push for Europe.Portsmouth are capable of doing that, more than capable, and that’s why I am here.Nampa-AFP