Portsmouth set to seal £0 transfer agreement for ex-West Brom star | OneFootball

Portsmouth are closing in on the signing of John Swift after his release from West Bromwich Albion.

Portsmouth are closing in on the signing of John Swift after his release from West Bromwich Albion.

Pompey enjoyed an impressive first season back at Championship level last term, finishing 16th.

As such, John Mousinho is looking to really see his side kick on in the second tier in 25/26, as they attempt to firmly establish themselves back in the second tier.

However, Adrian Segecic remains the club's only new signing of the summer so far, but that could now be about to change.

Portsmouth set to seal free transfer swoop for ex-West Brom star John Swift

The Express reporter Charlie Gordon has revealed via X on Saturday that Portsmouth have agreed a deal for Swift, with the medical set to get underway today.

It would see him sign a two-year contract with the club, along with the option of an additional year.

He has spent the last decade in the Sky Bet Championship, dating back to a loan spell with Brentford in 2015, with his move to Pompey set to continue that long tenure.

And while the original talks broke down, they were recently revived with the deal now set in motion should Swift pass the intended medical.

It would be an emotional return for the former Reading man, who grew up only a few miles away from Portsmouth and spent time in the club's academy before his move to Premier League giants Chelsea.

The attacking midfielder joined West Brom in 2022 after finishing a spell of over 200 games with Reading, who are now competing in League One.

He netted 19 times during his time at The Hawthorns, with his most productive season being his first.

In the 2024/25 campaign, Swift scored three times and added one assist to his tally across 36 second-tier games for the Baggies.

Former Chelsea youngster Swfit started career at Fratton Park - his return is surely to be welcomed warmly

Portsmouth-born, Swift spent a year in the academy of Portsmouth during his youth, before catching the eye of Chelsea.

He went on to play only once for the Blues' first-team, while he impressed enough in the youth set-up to earn a spot in various England international teams at youth level.

Pompey boss John Mousinho has assured fans that there is more money to be spent this summer after the club survived their return season to the Championship.

They finished 16th in the 2024/25 term, five points above the drop with 54 points on the board. It followed the title-winning season in League One, where Mousinho's side notched a mammoth 97 points, losing just five times.

There was wide-ranging interest reported for Swift, with teams in Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the MLS all linked to the former West Brom star, though it was understood very early on that his heart was set on a move much closer to home.

The News, based in Portsmouth, reported that the midfielder was keen to seal a return to Pompey with his family still living in the area.

Swift has been a steady hand at Championship level for a long time now, proving his consistency and longevity as a strong second-tier operator. A fairytale return to his boyhood club seems to be too good for him to turn down, while it also provides Portsmouth with a boost to their ranks ahead of the upcoming campaign.