Irish defender pens Fratton deal

Pompey have signed defender Enda Stevens on a two-year deal.





The 24-year-old Irish left-back spent most of last season on loan at Doncaster from Aston Villa and also had a spell with Northampton.





Blues boss Paul Cook said: “We’re delighted to bring Enda to the club. He brings a lot of quality and adds balance to the left-hand side.





“It’s important now that he kick-starts his career and has aspirations to progress and perhaps get into the Ireland squad.





“He’s got all the talent in the world, but he has to knuckle down with us and be the player that I believe he can be.”





Stevens – who has represented the Republic of Ireland at under-21 level – started his career in his homeland with UCD.





He moved on to play for St Patrick’s Athletic and Shamrock Rovers, winning the league title twice with the latter.





Stevens signed for Villa in January 2012 and has made nine senior appearances for the Premier League side.





But he has spent most of his time there out on loan, including two spells at Doncaster, where he played 32 games last season.