London - The Premier League imposed a transfer embargo on Portsmouth on Wednesday, preventing them from bringing in new players until debts to other English clubs have been paid off. The club's finances have been in chaos following two takeovers in the past two months, and earlier in the season they were a week late in paying players.
"We can confirm that there is an embargo on Portsmouth registering any new players," said Premier League spokesman Dan Johnson.
The transfer debts involved are believed to be on the signings of Lassana Diarra from Arsenal in January 2008 and Glen Johnson from Chelsea in August 2007.
Both players have since left the club, Diarra going to Real Madrid and Johnson to Liverpool.
"This concerns unpaid money to other clubs and it is in the process of being sorted," said Portsmouth spokesman Gary Double.
"We are confident the situation will be sorted by the end of the week."
Portsmouth lie bottom of the Premier League with one win from ten games.
