Portsmouth transfer round-up: Matt Ritchie stays at home as loan deal announced
Portsmouth have had a slow start to the transfer window and potential exits could make Pompey’s summer more stressful.
John Mousinho will have to try and improve his squad with low-cost deals due to Pompey’s low budget compared to their Championship rivals.
Ten players from last season’s squad have already left Fratton Park, and more are now expected to follow after the latest news.
Pompey News has now rounded up the latest developments from the past 24 hours.
Segecic reveals Robertson transfer talks
Portsmouth’s Australian contingent has already grown this season.
Adrian Segecic is Pompey’s only transfer so far this summer and could attract some of his fellow countrymen to Fratton Park.
Former loanee Alex Robertson has been linked with a return to the south coast, and Segecic has entertained the idea.
Speaking on BBC Sounds (7 July), he said: “I think he (Robertson) would love to (return), but we will see what happens with him.”
Portsmouth would do well to afford the youngster, however, with Cardiff reportedly receiving plenty of interest in the Aussie.
Portsmouth will benefit financially from fixture upsets
Fixture changes are something no supporters like to endure. They can disrupt work plans, travel and cost fans extra.
Mousinho’s side will start the season at Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium on 9 August at 3 pm, with the fixture being televised by Sky Sports.
For Pompey, however, recent fixture changes could benefit the Blues, with the new Sky deal raking in more money for Championship clubs.
Football finance expert Dan Plumley has explained the financial rewards.
“If you look at the terms of that deal, it was a 50 per cent increase overall on the previous one per club.
“When we see some of those figures from what they’ve got this season, it’s going to mean an uplift, and they’ll get the same uplift again this season, and ultimately that will be worth more than any real disruption caused by the fixture changes.“
Ritchie left out of Mousinho’s pre-season squad in Slovakia
Veteran winger Matt Ritchie has been left out of Mousinho’s pre-season squad in Slovakia.
Ritchie rejoined Pompey last season and featured regularly as he helped his side secure another season in the Championship.
According to reports from The News (9 July), the winger is staying in England as he looks to find a new club.
The experienced midfielder was unable to be guaranteed regular football next season and could now join one of Pompey’s Championship rivals.
| Matt Ritchie (Championship 2024/25 season) |
| Total minutes – 2220 |
Toby Steward joins St Johnstone on loan
Portsmouth goalkeeper Toby Steward has joined St Johnstone on loan.
The 20-year-old spent time on loan at League One club Crawley Town last season and made his EFL debut in April, receiving plenty of plaudits.
He joined Crawley in bizarre circumstances and was thrust straight into their starting line-up just days after his emergency loan, keeping a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw against League One Champions Birmingham City.
The youngster could soon find himself in the Pompey first team should he do well in Scotland.
Sign up for the Pompey News WhatsApp channel and turn on notifications to have all the latest, breaking Portsmouth news sent straight to your phone.