Portsmouth have finally landed the signing of Paul Downing – five months after trying to get him on loan.

Downing has signed for the Fratton Park club on a three-year deal as they look to go one better than last season when they missed out in the League One play-offs.

The 27-year-old finished the season with Doncaster, who he joined on loan in January, as he missed out on a second successive promotion from the third tier as they were beaten in the play-offs by Charlton.

Downing wasn’t offered a new deal by Rovers this summer, ending his two-year stay with the club which saw him join on loan from MK Dons on deadline day in August 2017 before that was made permanent in January 2018.

He was brought in as injury cover for Darragh Lenihan and did a sterling job, playing 30 times in all as Tony Mowbray’s side secured promotion back to the Championship.

But the return of Lenihan saw Downing drop down the pecking order and he made just four appearances in the first half of last season before Mowbray accepted his request to leave on loan.

He went on to play 22 times for Doncaster as they just missed out on promotion and were also in the race for his signature.

Downing’s arrival at Fratton Park comes at a time when the club have lost highly-rated centre back Matt Clarke to Premier League side Brighton in a deal which could rise to £5m.