The latest transfer headlines from Portsmouth and their Championship rivals as the 2024/25 season begins.
Matt Ritchie, a new Portsmouth recruit, has assured fans he will “give everything to make the team better this season” after returning to the club where it all began 16 years ago.
Ritchie graduated from Pompey’s academy in 2008, however he was a peripheral player at the time, making only seven league games over three seasons. After three successful loan spells at Dagenham & Redbridge, Notts County, and Swindon Town, he joined the Robins permanently in 2011, but he is best renowned for his successful spells at Bournemouth and Newcastle United, where he was twice promoted to the Premier League.
The Gosport-born winger’s return to Fratton Park will bring back memories, since he joined the academy as a teenager 22 years ago. Richie, on the other hand, maintains he is not here to reminisce and is solely concerned with winning football matches. Starting with today’s match versus promotion contenders Leeds United. In an interview with BBC Radio Solent, he stated: “I have some beautiful memories with this club, but I want to put that behind me for the time being.&w=707&quality=100)
“The future of our club is what is important. I am not here to reminisce; I am here to play football and win games; that is my primary goal because I want to contribute to this team and football club. I will struggle for the badge.
“My major goal is to help and improve the team. I’ll do my all to accomplish that.”
Ritchie has spent the most of his career as a right-sided winger and was a key part of Newcastle’s early success under Rafael Benitez, winning the Championship in 2016/17. However, near the end of his St James’ Park career, he was frequently deployed as a wing-back due to his tireless workrate and expertise.
John Mousinho has hinted that Ritchie would return to an attacking role, but the 16-time Scotland international focusses on doing his best for the squad.
Ritchie added: “It is up to the manager, not me, to decide whether or not I play.
“Games like this on Saturday were one of the reasons the boys worked so hard last season.
“We’ll go there with a plan to win the game; we want to get off to a solid start and then ramp up. “Who knows where we might end up.”
Hull City complete an ambitious double signing.
Hull City, Portsmouth’ Championship rivals, have signed Liam Millar and Finley Burns in a double deal as they look to develop a team capable of reaching the play-offs.
Millar, a 32-time Canadian international, began his career at Liverpool’s youth academy and moved on loan to Kilmarnock and Charlton before joining Swiss giants FC Basel. The attacking midfielder played 59 games in Switzerland before spending last season out on loan at Preston North End in the Championship, in a year which saw him register five goals and five assists in 36 games. He joins Hull on a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee and has agreed to sign a three-year deal with the club. Burns, is a 6ft 5 inc centre back from the Manchester City academy, who has made just one appearance for Pep Guardiola’s side. He has represented England at every age group from U15 to U20 and enjoyed a successful loan spell at Swansea City last season in this division. He joins Hull on a season-long loan. Both stars will be pushing to make their debuts in This afternoon, we will travel to Bristol City.
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