adminPortsmouth have fended off interest from several rival Championship sides to complete the loan signing of Aji Alese from Sunderland, according to journalist Darren Witcoop.
With relegation fears growing, Pompey have been pushing hard late in the window to strengthen their squad as they battle to preserve their Championship status and avoid a drop back into League One.
Those efforts have already seen the arrivals of Ebou Adams from Derby County, free agent Keshi Anderson following his departure from Birmingham City, and Millenic Alli on loan from Luton Town.
Another addition has now been secured, with Alese joining on loan from Premier League outfit Sunderland. The defender, who came through West Ham United’s academy, made the move to the Stadium of Light in 2022 and has since featured 46 times for the Black Cats. While he is yet to make a Premier League appearance, he did gain valuable European experience during his time with the Hammers.
Portsmouth’s success in landing Alese is viewed as a significant boost, especially given the strong Championship interest in securing his services. After joining Sunderland, Alese previously spoke about the contrast between life at West Ham and the Black Cats, and was challenged by then-manager Tony Mowbray to develop certain aspects of his game. He later admitted the move had helped elevate his overall performances.
Now at Fratton Park, Alese will be hoping for regular minutes as he looks to play a key role in Portsmouth’s fight for survival.
Pompey host West Bromwich Albion this weekend in a crucial relegation six-pointer, with the Baggies arriving amid a worrying slump in form. Whether Alese is handed his Portsmouth debut in that encounter remains to be seen.
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