Town Confirm Webster-Clarke Switch

Monday, 6th Jun 2016 15:10

Town have confirmed the signing of Portsmouth central defender Adam Webster on a three-year deal with an option for a further season from July 1st with fellow centre-half Matt Clarke moving in the opposite direction. TWTD first reported the move three weeks ago.

The fee paid to Pompey in addition to Clarke is officially undisclosed but is understood to be approaching the £750,000 mark and is the largest since Mick McCarthy took over as manager in November 2012, eclipsing the £350,000 paid to Danish side Esbjerg fB for left-back Jonas Knudsen last summer.

Webster, a 21-year-old right-sided centre-half or full-back who McCarthy initially tried to sign in January, joined Portsmouth aged 12 and came through the ranks at Fratton Park, making his senior debut as a 17-year-old in January 2012 during their time in the Championship in a 1-0 home defeat to West Ham.

The 6ft 3in tall ball-playing defender spent 2013/14 on loan at Aldershot, making 24 starts for the Vanarama National League side.

Webster, from West Wittering near Chichester, made 60 starts and 21 sub appearances for Portsmouth, scoring five goals, and has been capped by England at U18 and U19 levels.

Barham-born Clarke spent the whole of 2015/16 on loan at Pompey, making 30 starts and three sub appearances, scoring once. He has signed a three-year deal at Fratton Park.

“I’m over the moon,” the 19-year-old told the Portsmouth official site. “It was a good season for me on a personal level, although we didn’t quite hit the heights we were aiming for.

“I’ve come on leaps and bounds – playing U21 football just isn’t the same as turning out in front of massive crowds at Fratton Park.

“It was devastating for me to miss the play-off games with a niggly injury after working so hard throughout the campaign.

All the best @MatthewClarke96 gonna miss you roomie 🙁— Ted bishop (@ted10bishop) June 6, 2016

“But now I’m raring to get started again and am looking forward to what’s ahead at Pompey.

“This club might be in League Two, but everything’s set up for us to be at a higher level and we want to make sure that happens.”

The central defender or midfielder came through Town’s academy and made one Capital One Cup start and four Championship sub appearances for the Blues.

Delighted to have signed for @Official_ITFC can't wait to get started!! Thanks for all the messages! 💙 — Adam Webster (@AdamWebster31) June 6, 2016

Webster is Town's first signing of the summer with former loanee Liam Feeney all but certain to join him at Portman Road when his Bolton contract is up at the end of the month.

Another former loanee, Paul Digby, is expected to sign on a free transfer from Barnsley.





Photo: Action Images

BlueandTruesince82 added 15:12 - Jun 6

Welcome 4

DiamondGezzer added 15:13 - Jun 6

Good news ! Next ! 1

Michael11 added 15:13 - Jun 6

Finally!! Been waiting 2 weeks for this. Hopefully the future of our defence. A few more quality additions on the wings and a creative midfielder now please Mick/Marcus! 4

ipswichtillidie added 15:13 - Jun 6

Welcome Adam..A ball playing centre half is just what the doctor ordered! Now for a RB and some wide players... 5

TomJamesLW added 15:14 - Jun 6

Welcome Adam, happy with this as long as he defends just as well as Smith and is more confident on the ball than Berra.

Good luck to Matt, hope he comes back to haunt us in a few years time. 6

12th_Man added 15:16 - Jun 6

At last that went on and on now let's get a few more players in 1

yogiblue added 15:21 - Jun 6

BBC Sport says fee is approx. £750k... Well done MM on finally getting the purse strings loosened! 1

Hoofball added 15:44 - Jun 6

Good luck Adam, shame that you have gone from a team that play football to one that play Hoofball! -9

weevil added 15:48 - Jun 6

That's a good chunk of money by our standards (nowadays) excellent news. Young one for the future he is, but I'm sure he will slip straight into the starting 11. Now lets see 1m+ spent on a midfielder! 3

unknown100 added 15:53 - Jun 6

If the leak is right wolves away first game of the season -1

corfu72 added 16:04 - Jun 6

Fantastic news,at last.! Looks to be a great addition to the squad.wonder what position he will take up as I'm sure he won't just sit on the bench.!! 3

joepublic added 16:06 - Jun 6

Really glad this deal is done!

Wondering whether he is going to line up as cb or rb.



I am hoping he is our new cb! 1

NoCanariesAllowed added 16:10 - Jun 6

An eye-catching bit of spending from us for the first time in a long while. Just dearly hope that it won't lead to fans putting much greater pressure on him because of his cost in a team otherwise full of largely freebies. If there's one thing money certainly doesn't buy in football, it's patience.



Best of luck to you, Adam, and welcome to Portman Road! 11

Currie10 added 16:20 - Jun 6

" The 6ft 3in tall ball-playing defender "



By all accounts there are very very few of these around. With the fee he's clear as day going to be a first choice CB which I'm happy with. Defence has needed some work and we need someone to bring the ball out. Will encourage Skuse etc to go looking.



So does this mean he'll be alongside Berra to organise, or Smith? Going to guess at Berra with perhaps Smith a surprise exit.... 2

jdtractor96 added 16:29 - Jun 6

Fingers crossed this will be a great signing. Although does anybody else have a bad feeling about letting Clarke leave? Hopefully I'm just being pessimistic 0

BlueGoonie added 16:29 - Jun 6

unknown 100 - the leak is fake, confirmed by the Football League and the FA 2

Kesgraveblue57 added 16:34 - Jun 6

This hoofball character you know the type can do nothing but complain can't make a constructive comment most probably never been to a football match, but in saying that this lad Adam he will miss the Pompey crowd because the Ipswich crowd are afraid of making a noise 3

TractorBoy666 added 16:43 - Jun 6

At long last some money spent on a player in an area we needed strengthening! Our defence has been found out quite a few times last season with me holding my breath every time one of our defenders have the ball. Hopefully he'll slot straight in and can be part of a solid defence next year. I'd personally drop out Berra who wasn't at his best last season, while smith was excellent. A decent winger or two and a creative midfielder to finish things off please MM & ME! Welcome Adam Webster. 3

PJH added 16:43 - Jun 6

Good news,welcome Adam. 4

Hoofball added 17:06 - Jun 6

Kesgrave 57

I have had a season ticket for over 20 years ! sadly we do play Hoofball anyone who go to Portman Rd will no that. I bet you seat at home with radio Suffolk on. -2

IpswichT62OldBoy added 17:47 - Jun 6

I am starting to look forward to next season, we will have a footballing side on the pitch, provided we can avoid injuries.

It would be wonderful if we could play with some of the zip and incision we showed early last season, without letting 2 goal leads slip. 4

nineteenseventyeight added 18:32 - Jun 6

do most of you have short term memory loss? or just like to have a dig instead of being constructive? well said Hoofball...everyone wanted MM sacked for playing hoofball a few weeks ago, lets hope this new lad won't play like this and brings it out of defence and others may take his lead, welcome to the greatest club on earth lad! 3

jas0999 added 18:44 - Jun 6

Great news. A modest fee by Championship standards, but this goes to show what you can get for a fee purchase. A highly rated up and coming player who will hopefully feature for years to come versus cheap freebies like Coke and Toure. An important step in the right direction, but significant investment in the midfield still required. We must sign a goal scorer for the centre of the park.



Feeney for the right wage is a useful addition, but personally Digby hasn't impressed in the limited games I have seen him play, but by all accounts did well at Boro. 1

planetblue_2011 added 18:49 - Jun 6

At last!! Good luck Adam hope you have a great future with town👍 2