Aji Alese ruled out for season after groin tear on Portsmouth debut | OneFootball

Sunderland’s Aji Alese will miss the remainder of the season after tearing his groin while on loan at Portsmouth.

According to Sunderland Echo, Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho said the injury is likely to end the 25-year-old centre-back’s campaign. Alese suffered it shortly after coming off the bench in last weekend’s defeat to Preston North End, his debut following a January switch from the Stadium of Light.

Mousinho addressed the situation after Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Sheffield United, noting Alese had not played for a while and that the risk taken on his return against Preston did not pay off.

The setback continues a gruelling period for Alese. He had not featured for Sunderland for over a year because of a serious shoulder problem, and he was also sidelined for an extended spell after breaking his leg in January 2025.

The move to Fratton Park was intended to provide minutes and a reset, but his competitive return lasted only a few minutes before he was forced off.

Alese joined Sunderland from West Ham United in July 2022 and has made 31 appearances, scoring once. Injuries have stalled his early momentum and versatility across the back line. His focus now turns to recovery, with Sunderland set to monitor his rehabilitation at the Academy of Light ahead of the summer.

Source: Sunderland Echo