In the days of the Premier League, there were a number of quality free transfer signings in Sol Campbell, Hermann Hreidarsson, Sylvain Distin and Kanu.
Before then were Robert Prosinecki, Paul Merson, Shaka Hislop and Arjan de Zeeuw, among many others.
But how about the outstanding freebies snapped up by the Blues since departing the Premier League in May 2010?
Well, here are our 15 best Pompey free transfer recruits since then, in no particular order...
But how about the outstanding freebies snapped up by the Blues since departing the Premier League in May 2010?
![For one year, Davies was a hugely popular Fratton Park figure at right-back under Paul Cook, earning himself runner-up to Michael Doyle in the 2015-16 The News/Sports Mail’s Player of the Season.
His affection was cemented on his debut when running half the length of the pitch to close down Dagenham & Redbridge’s goalkeeper in the opening day 3-0 success in August 2015.
Initially a triallist, the former Sheffield United man was handed a contract by Paul Cook in the summer of 2015 and was largely first choice as the Blues reached the League Two play-off semi-finals.
However, a new deal couldn’t be agreed in the summer of 2016 and Davies instead moved to Grimsby.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/06/15/20/24/onecms_65bd58e1-f959-4bb1-b28b-533b617022c0.JPG.jpg?trim=61,0,0,0&crop=&width=800)
5. Ben Davies - 51 games, one goal
For one year, Davies was a hugely popular Fratton Park figure at right-back under Paul Cook, earning himself runner-up to Michael Doyle in the 2015-16 The News/Sports Mail’s Player of the Season. His affection was cemented on his debut when running half the length of the pitch to close down Dagenham & Redbridge’s goalkeeper in the opening day 3-0 success in August 2015. Initially a triallist, the former Sheffield United man was handed a contract by Paul Cook in the summer of 2015 and was largely first choice as the Blues reached the League Two play-off semi-finals. However, a new deal couldn’t be agreed in the summer of 2016 and Davies instead moved to Grimsby. | National World
![Unfairly tainted by Kenny Jackett’s bizarre reference as a ‘winter player’ during the 2020 play-offs, yet Naylor was a reliable performer over a number of years.
Largely utilised in the centre of midfield and replacing Brett Pitman as skipper, the free transfer arrival from Burton was part of the 2019 Checkatrade Trophy winning side and also played at Wembley in the 2020 Leasing.com Trophy held in March 2021.
In addition, the reliable defensive midfielder was a regular in successive League One play-off seasons under Jackett in 2018-19 and 2019-20.
Departed in the summer of 2021 after not being retained by Danny Cowley, during three years on the south coast, Naylor twice reached 53 appearances in a campaign.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/06/15/20/40/onecms_42bcfeb2-7915-48a2-8ff6-964aaaddf289.JPG.jpg?trim=0,194,6,258&crop=&width=800)
6. Tom Naylor - 149 games, three goals
Unfairly tainted by Kenny Jackett’s bizarre reference as a ‘winter player’ during the 2020 play-offs, yet Naylor was a reliable performer over a number of years. Largely utilised in the centre of midfield and replacing Brett Pitman as skipper, the free transfer arrival from Burton was part of the 2019 Checkatrade Trophy winning side and also played at Wembley in the 2020 Leasing.com Trophy held in March 2021. In addition, the reliable defensive midfielder was a regular in successive League One play-off seasons under Jackett in 2018-19 and 2019-20. Departed in the summer of 2021 after not being retained by Danny Cowley, during three years on the south coast, Naylor twice reached 53 appearances in a campaign. | National World
![The serial promotion winner worked his magic by helping the Blues to the League Two crown in his first Fratton Park season after arriving in the summer of 2016.
He slotted superbly alongside Michael Doyle in the two holding midfield positions, although his recall to the team at Crawley in March 2017 by Paul Cook coincided in the remarkable run to the title.
During Pompey’s first season back in League One in 2017-18, in the absence of Doyle, Rose was enjoying the best form of his Pompey career until he sustained a broken leg in a drop-ball with Northampton’s John-Joe O’Toole in December 2017.
He made just one more league appearance for the Blues before joining Swindon on a free transfer in January 2019.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/06/15/20/15/onecms_cf1bae7f-5201-4df0-b491-69a59f41e7ed.JPG.jpg?trim=0,2592,1677,88&crop=&width=800)
7. Danny Rose - 64 games, five goals
The serial promotion winner worked his magic by helping the Blues to the League Two crown in his first Fratton Park season after arriving in the summer of 2016. He slotted superbly alongside Michael Doyle in the two holding midfield positions, although his recall to the team at Crawley in March 2017 by Paul Cook coincided in the remarkable run to the title. During Pompey’s first season back in League One in 2017-18, in the absence of Doyle, Rose was enjoying the best form of his Pompey career until he sustained a broken leg in a drop-ball with Northampton’s John-Joe O’Toole in December 2017. He made just one more league appearance for the Blues before joining Swindon on a free transfer in January 2019. | National World
![Initially arrived at Fratton Park in the summer of 2019 on a season-long from Norwich and got off to a difficult start, characterised by a nightmare full debut in the 3-3 draw against Coventry.
At the end of the campaign, following his release by Norwich, the central defender signed permanently under Kenny Jackett having strongly bounced back from those shaky early displays.
Crowned The News/Sports Mail’s Player of the Season in 2021-22, he then finished runner-up to 2023-24 following an outstanding title-winning campaign which would prove to be his fifth and last with the Blues.
A battler, a fighter, dominant in the air and evolving his game on the ground to improve his distribution, Raggett established himself as a cult figure at Fratton Park and his departure on a free transfer this summer was mourned by many.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/06/15/20/12/onecms_c1c9039e-b568-40dc-9009-01715045632e.jpg.jpg?trim=0,223,0,221&crop=&width=800)
8. Sean Raggett - 239 games, 17 goals
Initially arrived at Fratton Park in the summer of 2019 on a season-long from Norwich and got off to a difficult start, characterised by a nightmare full debut in the 3-3 draw against Coventry. At the end of the campaign, following his release by Norwich, the central defender signed permanently under Kenny Jackett having strongly bounced back from those shaky early displays. Crowned The News/Sports Mail’s Player of the Season in 2021-22, he then finished runner-up to 2023-24 following an outstanding title-winning campaign which would prove to be his fifth and last with the Blues. A battler, a fighter, dominant in the air and evolving his game on the ground to improve his distribution, Raggett established himself as a cult figure at Fratton Park and his departure on a free transfer this summer was mourned by many. | National World