The player moves to Fratton Park on a two-year deal from Austrian club SV Ried after impressing during a tiral.

"Norman Mapeza is a player we have been chasing," said Pompey's director of football Harry Redknapp.

"I had him with me at West Ham for pre-season training at the start of last year but he never played for us because we couldn't get a work permit.

"I don't expect to have problems with that this time because he's the captain of Zimbabwe and they have gone up in the world rankings, which will make things far easier for us.

"The fact I brought him to West Ham indicates how highly I rate him. He is also a leader as well and that's no bad thing."

Pompey have also agreed new contracts with Linvoy Primus and teenager Gary O'Neil.

O'Neil has been awarded a long-term deal after breaking into the first-team last season, while Primus' contract has been extended by a year to 2003.