"I think Pompey are a top-five Premier League side and I believe I can achieve what I want to achieve at this club," he told Portsmouth's official website.
"It wasn't a difficult choice to make coming here.
"Everyone in the papers was saying I was going to Sunderland or Aston Villa but I only ever wanted to come here.
"As soon as I knew they were interested I said: 'I want to come to Pompey.'
"I came here because the manager has wanted me for two years. I met him when I was at Auxerre and I like the man because he gives you confidence."