WEST HAM midfielder Hayden Mullins became the fourth high-profile departure of the month when he joined Portsmouth for an undisclosed fee this week.

The 29-year-old central midfielder has put pen to paper on a three-and-a-half year deal at Fratton Park, joining Craig Bellamy, Matthew Etherington and Lee Bowyer at the Upton Park exit door.

Mullins was the longest-serving remaining member of the Hammers squad, but having seen his first-team opportunities dwindle under Gianfranco Zola, the path was cleared for the former Crystal Palace player to move to the South Coast side.

Zola said: “I did not want to lose him (Mullins) but at this point in his career he wanted to play regularly and I respect his wishes.

“He has been loyal and it would not have been fair to stand in his way.”

Mullins played 178 league games for the club during his five years at the Boleyn Ground and was a leading influence in the club's successful promotion from the Championship in 2005.