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Pompey bring in Traore from Arsenal

21/08/2008

Portsmouth have snapped up young Frenchman Armand Traore from Arsenal on a season long loan deal.

The 18-year-old left-back has moved in search of first team football after the Gunners secured the services of Mikael Silvestre from Manchester United.

Traore moved to Arsenal from Monaco in 2005 and has gone on to make 18 first team appearances, including a start in the 2007 Carling Cup final. But Traore is now fully focused on playing for Portsmouth and working under Harry Redknapp.

"Harry Redknapp is a good manager and the fact that he told me he had confidence in me; that was a big reason for me to come here, " Traore told the official Portsmouth website.

"And Portsmouth are a very good team. They are in the Uefa Cup and that is great for the club. "

Pompey have also completed the permanent signing of winger Jerome Thomas from Charlton, after the 25-year-old initially joined on loan.

Thomas, who made his debut for the club in the 4-0 defeat against Chelsea, has moved for an undisclosed fee and signed a one-year deal.

"It's a simple conversion from a loan deal to a permanent contract for a year," revealed chief executive Peter Storrie. "It frees up a loan space for us.

"Jerome could have been recalled by Charlton in January under the terms of his loan, but that's no longer a factor now his deal has been made permanent."