Mark O'Mahony reveals which Premier League player convinced him to sign for Portsmouth

Dan is a sports writer and broadcaster, who wrote for Breaking Media Limited's club sites including Pompey News between May 2024 and May 2025. Graduating from the University of Huddersfield in 2018 with First Class Honours in Sports Journalism, Dan has worked with several EFL clubs, as well as with BBC Radio, talkSPORT and TNT Sports. He previously resided in Sydney, Australia, where he continued his career as a freelancer in various sports. Dan was born and raised in Portsmouth, comes from a Pompey-supporting family, and was in attendance at both of the club's FA Cup finals in 2008 and 2010.

Published on:

13 Sep 2024, 4:06 am

Mark O'Mahony has revealed Adam Webster was part of the reason he chose to join Portsmouth on loan over the summer.

The 19-year-old Irishman arrived late in the transfer window on a season-long deal from Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion, and made his debut against Sunderland - who were also among those interested in signing him.

Webster, his teammate at the Amex Stadium and a successful academy graduate of Pompey, spoke to O'Mahony about how the fans would look after him.

The young striker told The News [13 September]: "I was close to signing for Sheffield Wednesday and I got offered a call from Portsmouth - Swansea and Sunderland were interested as well.

"I spoke to Webby about Pompey and also a few of the kitmen, who are massive fans, and they couldn’t speak more highly of the club. Webby said the fans would love you as long you work hard.

"I hadn’t made my mind up, but after talking to them I decided there was nothing better for me now considering everyone was speaking so well of Pompey."

Mark O'Mahony keen to make Portsmouth impact

O'Mahony has a bright future, illustrated by the demand he received over the summer from Championship clubs.

That he chose a move to Portsmouth over more established sides at the level shows the effect the club has had on players down the years to provide such glowing recommendations.

A physically developed striker, athletic and with a good engine, it's easy to forget O'Mahony is just 19 - and he went out with what he calls a "bang" after his goal for Brighton in their Carabao Cup win over Crawley Town the night before he signed at Fratton Park.

Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho

The young striker's work-rate has been identified by John Mousinho and the recruitment staff as a key attribute, especially in games where the forwards will have to heavily muck in defensively.

Introduced from the bench against Sunderland with the game as good as lost, O'Mahony will now be working towards his first start in blue and looks to show all the confidence to be able to succeed on the Hampshire side of the coast this season.

In other Portsmouth news, Harry Clout has received even more plaudits after something he did.

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Mark O'Mahony