Liverpool will sign England right-back Glen Johnson from Premier League rivals Portsmouth. The Anfield side confirmed last night that they had reached an agreement with both the player and his club. The Reds have been linked with the defender for a number of weeks while Pompey's executive chairman Peter Storrie claimed last week Johnson's former club Chelsea were willing to pay £18million for the 24-year-old. A Liverpool statement read: "Liverpool confirm they had reached an agreement with Portsmouth and with Glen Johnson for the transfer of the player to Anfield." Johnson enjoyed arguably his best season in the Premier League last term as he established himself as England's first-choice right-back and attracted the interest of bigger clubs. Johnson's first crack at the big time fizzled out when, after joining Chelsea from West Ham in 2003, he struggled to secure a regular first-team place and was loaned to Portsmouth before making the move permanent in 2007. Storrie said last week: "Glen has obviously had a fantastic season season for us and has established himself as one of the best right-backs in the league if not the country at the moment. "I've known Glen for a long time since his West Ham days so when I re-signed him we talked it over and he asked if one of the big four clubs, who were in the Champions League, came in for him would we stand in his way of a move. "I said that I couldn't do that provided the deal is good for Portsmouth and for Glen."
* PA Sport
