PORTSMOUTH, England — England striker Peter Crouch completed his move to Portsmouth on Friday and said manager Harry Redknapp and prospective teammate Jermain Defoe were his reasons for joining the club.
Having struggled to earn a place in Liverpool’s first team last season, Crouch was reportedly the subject of interest from Tottenham but opted to sign a four-year contract with the club he left in 2002.
Liverpool accepted an undisclosed offer for the 27-year-old Crouch, rumoured to be about 11 million pounds (C$22 million), leaving the player free to link up again with manager Redknapp.
"I’ve worked with the man before, I’ve always believed he gets the best out of me," Crouch said. "I think I’ve got the best years of my career to come and hopefully they’ll be at Portsmouth."
Crouch hit 18 goals in 37 games at Portsmouth and, three years later, the six-foot-seven striker scored 12 in 27 at Southampton — also under Redknapp.
Crouch is the fourth current England international at Portsmouth, which won the FA Cup last season for its first major trophy in 58 years.
"We’ve got a good squad here," Crouch said. "Certainly from when I was here previously at the club, it’s a big change."
Crouch joins fullback Glen Johnson and goalkeeper David James at Portsmouth, and will likely play up front alongside striker Defoe. The pair played in England’s 3-0 friendly win over Trinidad and Tobago last month, with Defoe scoring twice.
"We’ve got a good record together," Crouch said. "We know each other inside out and if we do play together, I’m looking forward to it right away."
Redknapp said that he was happy with his strikers, but that he could make more signings as the club aims to improve upon last season’s eighth-place finish in the Premier League.
"We’re always looking to improve the squad," Redknapp said. "We’ll see what comes up."