Luke Ayling sends message as Portsmouth officially confirm new transfer
Portsmouth finally look to be making some progress during the transfer window.
Like last season, John Mousinho’s side have had to wait until pre-season to secure the majority of their transfer targets.
Pompey again went poaching in Australia earlier in the summer as they signed playmaker Adrian Segecic, but have struggled to compete for players since.
Portsmouth have one of the smallest budgets in the league, so have again had to utilise the free agent market.
Luke Ayling sends a message as Swift joins Portsmouth
Mousinho completed the signing of experienced midfielder John Swift on Tuesday.
The 30-year-old, who was born in Portsmouth, agreed a two-year deal to return to the club, having previously played in the academy.
As Swift reacted to the move on Instagram, experienced Middlesbrough defender Luke Ayling was immediately in the comments to wish him well.
He wrote: “Congratulations, fella”, followed by two white heart emojis.
Despite having never played together, the pair appear to have a close bond, coming up against each other multiple times.
Swift spent plenty of years playing Championship football with Reading and West Brom, and his counterpart spent eight seasons at Leeds before joining Middlesbrough.
The right-back recently lost his place in the Boro side, and given their recent managerial change, along with his age, Ayling could be available for transfer himself this summer.
Ayling could be a smart signing for Portsmouth
It has recently been reported that Middlesbrough are looking at both Callum Brittain and Alfie Gilchrist to bolster their right-hand side.
| Games | Clean sheets | Assists | |
| 2024/25 | 26 | 8 | 2 |
| 2023/24 | 33 | 11 | 9 |
This would leave Ayling’s future in the North East uncertain.
The 33-year-old is no stranger to the south, having played for Arsenal, Yeovil, and Bristol City previously.
Though Terry Devlin worked well as a utility right-back last season, Pompey could do with more reinforcements at the back.
Ayling also offers plenty of versatility, having featured as a centre-back last season, and given Mousinho’s struggles to lure Rob Atkinson back to Fratton Park, the former Arsenal man could prove useful.
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