Derby sign Portsmouth's Griffin

Derby have completed the signing of Portsmouth defender Andy Griffin.

The 28-year-old has joined the Rams on a three-year contract which will keep him at Pride Park until the summer of 2010.

Griffin will have a swift reunion with his former team-mates as Derby entertain Pompey on the opening day of the Barclays Premier League season.

Derby boss Billy Davies was delighted to acquire the services of Griffin.

He told Derby’s official web-site: “Andy is an excellent player with a calm head and has a very good attitude. Like Andy Todd he brings experience to the squad.

“I believe Andy Griffin has great years ahead of him. Every time I see him play he shows how consistent he is.”

Griffin has becomes Derby's seventh signing of the summer and has the versatility to cover either full-back position.

He began his career at Stoke as a teenager and made 64 appearances before earning himself a £1.5m move to Newcastle.

Griffin won three England Under-21 caps while on Tyneside and made more than 100 appearances in his six years with the Magpies before clinching a free transfer move to Portsmouth in the summer of 2004.

He made 43 top-flight appearances for Pompey but returned to Stoke at the start of 2006-07 campaign for a season-long loan.

In total Griffin has made 223 career starts, plus a further 26 substitute appearances, and scored seven goals.