Josh Murphy is hoping a move to Portsmouth will be the next step in his climb back up the football ladder. 

The Norwich City FA Youth Cup winner swapped play-off winners Oxford United for Portsmouth at the end of his contract after an electric second half of the campaign last season. 

Portsmouth beat off competition to secure the ex-City winger on a three-year deal, a move that has seen him receive criticism from his former club's supporters. 

Murphy has faced accusations that money was the driving factor behind his move to the south coast but has explained why a quest for greatness saw him opt for a new challenge despite promotion with Oxford. 

"I want to kick on - and Portsmouth want to kick on. Hopefully, it will be another successful season," he told the News. 

"I’m sure the whole club and city are on a high from being champions. It was well deserved and now I want to be part of an exciting future.

"The plan of the club is just very attractive and appealing. They want to go again.

"The manager doesn’t want to rest on his laurels. He wants to achieve great things in his career - hopefully I can be a part of that. It’s is big part of the attraction.

"I just want to play my best football and be in a team which strives for greatness.

Murphy struggled to contend with the spotlight of a high-profile and big-money move from City to then-Premier League Cardiff back in the summer of 2018. 

That led to a disillusion with the game before he rediscovered the spark during a hugely successful second half of the campaign at the Kassam Stadium. 

Josh Murphy won promotion to the Championship with Oxford United last season.Josh Murphy won promotion to the Championship with Oxford United last season. (Image: PA Images)

The winger now feels he is in a better headspace to make a success of his time at Fratton Park.

"I’ve got a young family now and things have all fallen into place," the City academy graduate said. "Perhaps now I have a different purpose now and especially the last season was really enjoyable.

"It’s something I want to replicate now and I’m hungry to kick on. I’m hungry to get more goals, I’m hungry to get more assists and hungry to help the team. If I’m doing that it’s going to be putting us up the league. That’s why I’m here."