'I like to kill people with happiness': Dancing Portsmouth favourite's Championship plans for more smiles

Dancing Christian Saydee wants to continue to ‘kill people with happiness’ - and he’s eyeing spreading more smiles in the Championship.

The 22-year-old enjoyed a memorable maiden season at Fratton Park by claiming promotion and the League One crown.

Plucked from Bournemouth for an undisclosed fee, the modest sum turned out to be a bargain with 42 appearances in a memorable campaign.

A haul of four goals don’t tell the full story behind Saydee’s impact, particularly from the bench, with a crucial match-winner against Oxford United and earning the penalty against Barnsley to spark the late comeback which secured the title.

There was also the iconic second-half moment in the final match at Lincoln, when a disgruntled opposition player’s derogatory comments were met with a Saydee dance and big smile.

And the powerful attacker wants to enjoy himself even more in next term’s Championship challenge.

He told The News: ‘Winning the league was probably more than I expected when I joined, it has been a season I will remember for the rest of my life.

‘I became a better player under the gaffer, he helped me so much, he made me feel I’m part of a good team. Now I’m looking forward to doing more.

‘It has been such a good season - and fun. Against Lincoln, their player was mumbling and getting at Kas (Yengi) as well, who is one of my closest friends.

‘So I decided to dance for him. Sometimes you need to kill people with happiness, that’s what I like to do, so I did that. It was fun.

‘He didn’t have anything to say after that, to be fair - and we went on to win 2-0.

‘I’m still young, I’m definitely improving and learning all the time and I know that will continue in the Championship.’

Saydee arrived at Fratton Park on the opening day of last summer’s transfer window.

He represented John Mousinho’s third signing after Will Norris and Conor Shaughnessy during a flying start to recruitment ahead of that 2023-24 campaign.

Friday marks the opening of this summer’s window, with another busy summer ahead strengthening the squad for the Championship return after 12 years away.

And Saydee believes the team spirit created last summer was the driving force behind their remarkable season.

He added: ‘More than anything it has been the team spirit, right from the time in Marbella for pre-season to winning the title, it was well put together.

‘We were a close group, I came in as one of 14 new lads and everyone clicked from day one.’