Posh swoop for Sky Bet Championship left-back after Rio Adebisi ruled out for up to four months.
Peterborough United have moved quickly in the transfer market to bring in left-back Jack Sparkes from Sky Bet Championship side Portsmouth for an undisclosed fee, with the 23-year-old putting pen to paper on a three-year contract.
Sparkes featured in 43 games for Pompey last season as they secured promotion out of League One and he makes the move to PE2 despite interest from a number of other clubs at this level.
Manager Darren Ferguson explained why and how the move has materialised. "He is a player that we actually met last year so he is someone we know well. He has played with Archie and Joel, another player that was at Exeter City - they are taking over this club as Joel keeps reminding me!
"He got a promotion from this league last season and I believe it is a fantastic signing for us. We brought Rio in from Crewe, we had been chasing him all summer, but unfortunately he suffered a knee injury on Tuesday night. Some of his cartilage has come away in a bit of a freak accident and he is going to be out for up to four months.
"We had to act quick. Jack was on his way to sign for another club in League One. I think it is the quickest deal I have ever done. I was on the phone to Darragh and Barry last night constantly and we managed to get it over the line.
"His agent helped, we know him, Arron Davies used to play for me and played here. We enquired about Jack last season also helped us. He will bring good experience of the league, which is important, a promotion on his CV from this division, he knows how I want to play because I met him before, he knows a few players and has a very good left-foot.
"Not only that, but he is really good at set-pieces so I think he is a really good signing. Fair play to the chairman because this wasn't in our budget to bring in another left-back, but we have had to act quick and in football, things happen for a reason, I am a big believer in that.
"We are hoping to bring in a few more players soon. Obviously we are gutted for Rio, but we will support him as he begins his rehab," Ferguson said.
Sparkes is excited to get started: "It happened very quickly, but once I heard it was happening, it was obviously something I wanted to get done because I want to be playing regular first team football.
"I know Archie and Joel well so that will help me settle quickly, I am up to speed in terms of fitness as I have been doing the pre-season with Portsmouth. I played against Peterborough last season so I know all about the club, they play football the right way and I am looking forward to getting started."
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