Portsmouth have signed Chelsea midfielder Alexei Smertin on loan for the remainder of the Premiership season.
Russian international Smertin, who joined the Stamford Bridge club for stg£3.5million from Bordeaux, will complete his season-long loan move to Fratton Park if he obtains a work permit.
The 28-year-old was bought by Chelsea as an `investment for the future' and was not expected to get into the first team straight away.