Portsmouth have come across the county border for one of their most recent signings.

Teenage goalkeeper Taylor Seymour completed his first professional deal this week.

He was with Lewes youth team last season and part of the Sussex under-18s side who reached their national final.

Seymour now comes under the guidance of Pompey goalkeeping coach John Keeley, the former Albion No.1.

He will be the club’s fourth-choice keeper at first, which appears to count him out of any involvement at the Amex in this evening's Carabao Cup tie.

But friends and contacts across the county will keep a careful eye on his progress.

Seymour played in his hometown for Worthing College, under the guidance of Dave Hall, and Worthing United.

He impressed Sussex under-18s’ boss Jay Lovett with his maturity and as a modern goalkeeper.

Those qualities helped secure a one-year contract.

Lovett said: “In the first year, he was our second choice goalkeeper and he played a couple games “But even then he was a really big character in the changing room.

“He’s loud, he gets everyone motivated, he’s the joker in the pack.

“He’s not a loudmouth, he’s just a lovely guy and he has a lovely character on him.

“In the second year, he became first choice goalkeeper and we got to the national final before Covid.

"We are still hoping to play the final but we haven’t heard much about it.

“He put in some really good performances last year, which is how he got his move to Portsmouth.

“I’ve become friends with him and a couple of his friends play for me at Burgess Hill.

“He has been along to a few pre-season games, having a watch.

“It has been great to stay in touch with him and obviously we knew he had been trialling at Portsmouth and had impressed.”

Seymour has reported back on his Pompey progress.

Lovett added: “He said he had been invited to train with the first team a few times.

“They have said he is their type of goalkeeper because he has got very good distribution of the ball.

“He can kick the ball for miles as well as the big presence in goal.”

Sussex and Lewes under-18s coach Dale Hurley has played a big part in Seymour’s development.

Rooks’ first team boss Hugo Langton was another to notice the player’s maturity.

He told The Argus: “Nathan Stroomberg is my No.1 but Taylor is a great kid and he has got all the attributes to be a top goalkeeper.

“I was aware when I came into the club that it was probable he was going to Portsmouth and I’m really chuffed for the kid.

“One thing he is at 18 years old is very mature in certain situations.

“Even in the WhatsApp group, one of the young players might put something stupid and Taylor policed it straight away.

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"He has got good personal standards and I hope he pushes himself on and has a great career because he is a great lad.”

Pompey boss Kenny Jackett could rest players tonight ahead of the League One trip to Rochdale.

He said “It’s a big week for us but we want to attack both games if we can.

“One is not necessarily more important than the other."