Former Norwich City winger Josh Murphy has swapped newly promoted Oxford United for Portsmouth. 

The City academy graduate has been subject to much speculation since casting himself as the Wembley hero for the Us to earn them a Championship spot for the first time this century when they beat Bolton back in May. 

But, with Murphy out of contract and having impressed under Des Buckingham in the second half of the campaign, he was linked with a host of clubs including Derby and Blackburn Rovers. 

Oxford reportedly offered Murphy a deal that would have seen him become their highest ever paid player, but it wasn’t enough to convince him to remain at the Kassam Stadium. 

Murphy has signed a three year deal at Pompey and will form an integral part of their squad hoping to remain in the division after winning League One last season. 

The 29-year-old left Norwich in a £11million deal to join then Premier League side Cardiff in 2018. He spent the entirety of his youth career at Carrow Road and was part of their FA Youth Cup winning side under Neil Adams in 2013. 

That experience at higher levels was a real draw for Pompey boss John Mousinho, who expressed his delight at beating off stiff competition to sign Murphy. 

“Josh brings a wealth of Premier League and Championship experience for starters,” Mousinho told club channels. 

“He was one of the outstanding players in League One during the second half of last season, which culminated in that Wembley brace to take Oxford up.

“He’s an exciting winger, who possesses goals and assists in his arsenal. There’s also out-and-out pace on either flank.

Josh Murphy spent his formative years at Norwich City.Josh Murphy spent his formative years at Norwich City. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

“Josh can get the fans excited with the way he plays, so we’re absolutely delighted to get the deal done.”

The move means that Murphy will miss an opening day reunion with the Canaries but will return to Carrow Road with Portsmouth on Good Friday. 

It is a wide reinforcement for Pompey after Abu Kamara returned to Carrow Road from a highly productive loan spell at Fratton Park last term. 

New Norwich boss Johannes Hoff Thorup is expected to offer Kamara an opportunity to stake his claim for a starting spot throughout pre-season, with the youngster among the group of players poised for a return for testing at the end of the week.