Portsmouth have completed their first signing of the summer transfer window by adding Chelsea teenager Ben Sahar to their plans for next season.
The promising Israeli striker, 18, joins on a six month loan deal after making only three appearances for Chelsea's first-team since his debut in January 2007.
Sahar's latest temporary transfer represents his third loan move away from Stamford Bridge since his arrival in 2006, after spending spells with QPR and Sheffield Wednesday last season in the Championship.
But Sahar is confident he will get his chance under Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp to demonstrate his supreme striking capabilities to the Premier League, looking forward to the prospect of Uefa Cup football next season with the FA Cup holders as well.
"I’ve always wanted to be part of a Premier League team and I’m happy to be at Portsmouth," Sahar said.
"I have heard a lot of good things about Harry Redknapp, the club and the staff and they obviously had a very good season, so I’m happy to be here.
"I know that I’m young and I still need to develop, to get experience and to learn from big players, like there are here.
"I’m ready for the challenge of being part of such a big club, like Portsmouth. "I want to be part of it and to show that I deserve to be here."
Eighteen months ago, doubts were cast upon Sahar's future in English for non-football related reasons in his homeland of Israel.
As an Israeli citizen, the player, like all Israeli men, must serve a statutory three-year spell in the military.
However, Israel's youngest-ever international is likely to avoid the service after fellow compatriot and parliamentarian Haim Katz proposed the 'Ben Sahar bill' in December 2006, demanding the country's leading sportsmen do not get drafted while playing overseas.
