Ryley Towler is excited to be the first of Pompey’s new signings during the January transfer window.
The defender has inked a three-and-a-half-year deal on the south coast, arriving from Bristol City for an undisclosed fee.
Fans will have to wait to watch him in action, with the 20-year-old cup-tied for Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup tie at Tottenham Hotspur.
And Towler admits the opportunity to appear in front of such large crowds at Fratton Park was a motivating factor in agreeing to the switch.
He said: “This is a massive club and just being a football fan, you know how big Pompey is. I’m delighted to be here.
“Of course it was a huge decision because I’ve supported Bristol City since I was a kid. I went from sitting with the fans to playing for them.
"This is a massive club and just being a football fan, you know how big Pompey is. I’m delighted to be here."
“But sometimes you have to move on to kickstart your career. I’d heard there was a bit of interest, so you’re obviously going to think about it.
“I know how big the fanbase is here – with more than 18,000 coming the other day – so I can’t wait to play in front of them.
“I’m a left-sided centre-half who is hard-working and honest. I like to defend, but also play on the ball, hitting diags and stepping in.
“I’ll have my first training session on Monday and look forward to meeting a new set of lads. I want to play as many games as I can and help the team.”
Towler had a temporary stint with Grimsby last term before spending the first half of the current campaign at AFC Wimbledon.
He said: “I loved those loans and have learnt so much from them. It’s made me more mature to play men’s football week in, week out.
“I’ve been improving all the time, getting more aggressive and physical. I think that it’s done me the world of good.”