Portsmouth Women boss Jay Sadler

Portsmouth Women continue exciting new chapter with two more professional signings

Dan is a sports writer and broadcaster, who wrote for Breaking Media Limited's club sites including Pompey News between May 2024 and May 2025. Graduating from the University of Huddersfield in 2018 with First Class Honours in Sports Journalism, Dan has worked with several EFL clubs, as well as with BBC Radio, talkSPORT and TNT Sports. He previously resided in Sydney, Australia, where he continued his career as a freelancer in various sports. Dan was born and raised in Portsmouth, comes from a Pompey-supporting family, and was in attendance at both of the club's FA Cup finals in 2008 and 2010.

Published on:

21 Jul 2024, 8:29 am

Portsmouth Women have added to their blossoming professional squad with new signings Hannah Coan and Megan Hornby, as confirmed on the club's official website.

Unveiled on portsmouthfc.co.uk, the signings of defender Coan [19 July] and forward Hornby [20 July] bolster an evolving full-time setup under head coach Jay Sadler as the club prepare for their inaugural season in the Women's Championship.

The duo have joined from Blackburn Rovers, who are currently in considerable disarray with women's team players uncertain of whether they will be paid enough to sustain their professional careers [Daily Mail, 2 July].

Portsmouth Women secure double deal from Blackburn

Amid the worrying news coming out of Blackburn - who are looking to boost gate receipts by playing their entire home campaign at Ewood Park this season - Portsmouth have swooped in to take advantage with the double signing.

Pompey boss Sadler will be delighted to have now brought in a defender, midfielder and forward in the past three days, having also secured Championship title winner Sophie Barker.

In addition, a whopping 13 of last season's National League champions have agreed the step up to a professional contract, a process which can often be littered with obstacles due to other career and life commitments for players.

Coan was Rovers' Young Player of the Year last term and spent three years with the club's first team after coming through the ranks with Everton.

Hornby scored seven times and claimed five assists in the Championship in 2023-24, having returned to Blackburn from Manchester United in 2021.

In other Portsmouth news, a BBC journalist identifies where Pompey must recruit next.

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Hannah Coan