*Pompey Sign Thompson*

David Thompson has become Portsmouth`s second signing of the summer having already signed Glen Johnson. David joins Pompey on a year long deal with a view to a longer deal should he impress.

Portsmouth websites such as ourselves and/or newspapers normally report we are after a player before he signs, however the club and player kept this one quiet.

So Who Is He?

David Thompson was born September 12, 1977 in Birkenhead, England.

Thompson has played for Liverpool, Coventry City, Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic.

His Liverpool debut came on August 19, 1996, as late substitute against Arsenal though he only played one more game before he was loaned to Swindon Town for a while in November 1997. He put in impressive performances at Swindon which led him breaking into the Liverpool side.

In the summer of 2000 he moved to Coventry City, his debut saw a 3-1 defeat to Middlesbrough and he was sent off in the 71st minute.

His carrer was moving on as he played for the England under 21`s but his Coventry City team were relegated during the 2000-01 season, and he tried to leave for a move back to the Premiership.

Failing to manage this, he had to wait until August 2002 when Blackburn Rovers signed him for £1.5 million. His appearance in the team was an inspiration to his fellow players and made a big impression on the club.

His rise in division as well as form gave him international recognition, as Sven-Göran Eriksson named him in the England squads against Slovakia and Macedonia.

In recent seasons Thompson has been prone to injury, a cartilage problem and further surgery in 2003-04 led him to suffer a huge dip in form and simply wasn`t the player he was. These injuries and poor form on return meant that Blackburn allowed him to leave on a free transfer to Wigan on January 19, 2006. After just seven appearances for Wigan they released him in May 2006.

He has made 232 apperances scoring 33 goals, receiving 64 yellows and 5 reds.


Why Have We Signed Him?

We`ll he isn`t going to win us the league but he is no doubt a talented player. I think the main reason for signing him is his versatility, he can play in pretty much any position across the midfield and will become a squad player.

He gets stuck in for someone so small and once said, "I don't deliberately go out to hurt someone."

When he joined Wigan on a free in January, Paul Jewel told of his reasons for signing him;

"He's a talented lad who can play in a number of positions and he also has an eye for goal.

"I only believe in bringing players in who add something new to our squad, and in signing David we have done that."

With regular football, Harry and the amazing Pompey fans behind him I think that Harry may have just signed one of the biggest talents available for free this year. You Pompey fans are going to love his desire and fight and he will love yours.

Anyone see an English theme to the signings and contract signings, NUGENT!?!

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