Pele & Mullins sign for Pompey

Portsmouth have bolstered their squad with a surprise double swoop for West Ham United midfielder Hayden Mullins and Porto youngster Pele.

Mullins has joined on a three-and-half-year-deal for an undisclosed fee while 21-year-old attacking midfielder Pele has signed on loan until the end of the season, with a view to permanent move.

Both players will go straight into manager Tony Adams' squad for Tuesday's Barclays Premier League clash with Aston Villa at Fratton Park.

Adams has had a busy month in the transfer market with Jermaine Pennant joining on loan from Liverpool last week and Nadir Belhadj signing a permanent contract. Jermain Defoe and Lassana Diarra have also left the club.

Mullins' move comes just two days after his final appearance for the Hammers as a substitute in the 2-0 FA Cup win over Hartlepool.

The 29-year-old, who has spent the past five years at Upton Park after an £800,000 move from Crystal Palace, only became aware of Portsmouth's interest yesterday.

Mullins told the club's website: 'It was a little bit of a shock. I trained on Sunday with West Ham after the game on Saturday and then it all happened very quickly, but I'm very pleased to have joined.

'It was a great experience to have worked under Gianfranco Zola but it's a great challenge to come here and work with some really talented players.

'I enjoyed my time at West Ham but I was there for five years and thought that maybe it was time for a change.

'Portsmouth are a club with a lot of history. They won the FA Cup last year, so I'm very excited to be here.'

Pele, a Portugal Under-21 international, only joined Porto last summer after previously playing for Inter Milan and scoring in last year's Italian Cup final.

Pele said: 'It's always been an ambition of mine to play in England, to play in the Premier League. I've always watched English football, and the crowds are always great here.

'England is the home of football, so it's fantastic to get this opportunity.'

RTE