Hreidarsson is on his way to The Valley

Charlton have completed the �900,000 capture of Ipswich defender Hermann Hreidarsson.

The Icelandic international passed a medical with the Premiership club on Thursday and boss Alan Curbishley wrapped up the deal to beat off interest from Portsmouth.

Charlton were able to sign the defender because Ipswich are in administration and that means they can sell to Premiership clubs who otherwise would be thwarted by transfer window rules.

Hreidarsson has won more than 40 caps for his country and missed only two Premiership matches for Ipswich during their two-season spell in the top flight.

The former Wimbledon, Brentford and Crystal Palace player joined the Tractor Boys from Selhurst Park in a �4m deal in August 2000.

Ipswich chairman David Sheepshanks has agreed to let him leave Portman Road, claiming the sale was "a necessity in our current situation".

The club recently sold promising teenager Darren Ambrose to Newcastle for �1m while defender Michael Turner has joined Leyton Orient on loan until the end of the season.