Adam McGurk has joined Portsmouth, the club have confirmed.
McGurk leaves newly-promoted League One side Burton Albion to return to the fourth tier on a two-year deal.
Burton are looking to bolster their squad as they prepare for life in the third tier, and have viewed the striker as a player that can be upgraded after just 19 goals in 83 games during his two years with the club. With his contract up for renewal, they have opted to release him, and Portsmouth have thus snapped him up on a free transfer.
McGurk admires the Portsmouth fans
In the 2014-15 season, McGurk scored seven goals for Burton in 41 appearances, with one of those strikes coming against Pompey when the Brewers beat them 2-0 back in September - the 26-year-old opening the scoring after just two minutes.
McGurk told the club's official website that "the size of the club and the large crowds" were what attracted him to them and influenced him to join.
He is "excited" to play in front of the huge numbers of fans, admitting he has "always been struck by how fantastic" they are when he has played against Portsmouth, in spite of "a difficult few years" that they have endured from the stands. He continued to praise them, crediting them for their continued support, "even when they're not winning."
McGurk is also looking forward to working with the manager, Paul Cook. Having played against him before when he was in charge at Chesterfield, the striker has admired the way in which his teams play the game as well as "how much they wanted to play for him." Upon meeting Cook, McGurk also noted his "passion" and said that he wants to "be a part of that."
A dramatic fall form grace for Pompey
Since being relegated from the Premier League in 2010, Portsmouth have declined rapidly, being relegated from the Championship in 2012, League One in 2013 and have failed to establish themselves in League Two as well, finishing 13th in 2014 and 16th last season.
McGurk recognises that "the club belong in a higher division" and wants to play his part in helping them achieve this by offering "hard work and creativity." He is also aiming to "score more goals than last season" but believes "the important thing" is "to contribute to a winning team."
McGurk began his career with Aston Villa, signing for them as a 15-year-old, but failed to make an appearance for them before leaving in 2010 at the age of 21. He spent a short spell with Hednesford Town in the non-league, but was soon snapped up by Tranmere Rovers, where he scored 10 league goals in three years, making 79 appearances along the way.
Burton was his next destination in 2013, and he spent two years with the Brewers before opting for the switch to Pompey. McGurk also represented Northern Ireland at under-21 level during his Villa days, making one appearance against Portugal in 2009.
He is Pompey's fifth signing of the summer, following the arrivals of defender Enda Stevens and midfielders Gary Roberts, Kyle Bennett and Kal Naismith.