Portsmouth take risk to secure specialist John Swift transfer
Portsmouth look to be on the verge of signing John Swift as a free agent.
The move has seemingly split opinion amongst the Fratton Park faithful, with some seeing it as a shrewd piece of business, whilst others are sceptical about his imminent arrival.
The 30-year-old has undergone a medical at Pompey ahead of putting pen to paper on a two-year deal with an option to extend his stay on the south coast for a further 12 months.
The Blues now look set to be welcoming Swift back with open arms, but it is a transfer that comes with a fair few risks attached to it for John Mousinho.
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Whilst the move for Swift has been described as a no-brainer by some and a necessary addition to Mousinho’s midfield, supporters will be wondering whether his best days are a thing of the past.
Whilst the attacking midfielder has a wealth of Championship experience that could help Pompey with their aim of pushing up the division, he was ultimately released by West Brom for a reason after failing to perform last season.
| John Swift | Stats (Championship 2024/25 season) |
| Appearences | 36 |
| Goals | 3 |
| Assists | 1 |
This does not tell the full story, however, as Swift has had very productive seasons at Championship level for West Brom and Reading in the past, finishing with double digits in both goals and assists as recently as 2022.
Swift has also been labelled as a free-kick specialist in the past, with his quality often being evident from dead-ball situations, as shown against Burnley last season.
This is an attribute that could prove to be beneficial for Mousinho, with that type of marginal gain being the potential difference between facing the drop or staying up.
A fresh start could bring back the Swift of old
At the end of his spell in the Black Country, the relationship between Swift and the West Brom fan base was fairly toxic.
The midfielder’s work rate was often questioned, and his poor output led to Albion supporters losing their patience with Swift.
Despite this, there is a technical quality that Swift possesses that cannot be denied.
A return to Portsmouth, a place he has a natural affinity for and being serenaded by a roaring Fratton Park could be exactly the thing to revitalise Swift’s career.
With Matt Ritchie set to leave PO3, replacing his experience in the dressing room will be vital.
In Swift, Pompey are bringing in a Championship veteran with a point to prove after being released, and this chip on his shoulder could help him find form again, but this time in a blue shirt.
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