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Portsmouth sign Australia defender Matthews

Portsmouth sign Australia defender Matthews

BBC News27-01-2025

Portsmouth have signed Australia defender Hayden Matthews for an undisclosed fee from A-League club Sydney FC.The 20-year-old, who won his first cap in November, has signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with the Championship club.He is the second Australian to move to Fratton Park this month after striker Thomas Waddingham joined from Brisbane Roar.Reports in Australia say Portsmouth have paid £1.26m for Matthews - making him the most expensive defender in Australian football. "He's a really promising young centre-back and player that we've been tracking for quite some time," Portsmouth manager John Mousinho told the club website."There wasn't the opportunity to bring him over here in the summer, so we're delighted that he's been able to join us now."Hayden is someone with a huge amount of potential, but he's already played a lot of first-team games in a short amount of time."He's 6ft 5in, but is also very mobile and doesn't just rely on his height. There's a real physicality there, while he's calm and composed with the ball at his feet."

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