Portsmouth

Portsmouth forward Adrian Segecic believes he is now a player other squad members can look up to.

The 22-year-old scored 11 goals in 38 games in his debut season in the Championship after moving from Sydney FC in June 2025.

"It was a big season for me as we had ups and downs both personally and as a team," Segecic told BBC Radio Solent.

"I learned a lot as a young player - first season in the Championship and to score double figures was amazing and I feel like it was a good season, most importantly we stayed up and I massively contributed to that as well."

Segecic was on standby for the Croatia World Cup squad having made one appearance for the under-21s after switching allegiance from Australia but was eventually left out of the final 26-man party.

After spending time with family back in Australia during the summer he is now ready to set an example for the rest of the Portsmouth side.

"Not many people see me as a young player anymore. It's more as someone who people can look up to and kind of learn off and see what young players can do in the league and how to adapt as quickly as I did," he said.

"It's a totally different situation to what I was in last season when I came here not knowing if I would play or if I would be a main player so to do that and prove I can be a main player was massive for me."

Portsmouth start the new Championship season at home to QPR on Saturday, 15 August (15:00 BST).

Listen to more Portsmouth content and interviews on BBC Sounds.

Charlton Athletic have entered the race to sign English Hull City winger Abu Kamara, 22, who has been the subject of interest from Portsmouth since the start of the summer transfer window. (Hull Daily Mail), external

Free agent Nathan Redmond is currently training with Charlton Athletic but the 32-year-old English winger is not close to a deal with the Addicks. (Sky Sports), external

Want to read more transfer rumours? Check out Friday's full gossip column here.

Eoin Kenny is ready for the step up into the Championship.

The forward signed for Pompey from League of Ireland side Dundalk earlier this month, agreeing a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee, and is pleased to get a chance in English football's second tier.

"We're mid-season in Ireland and at Dundalk we've had a great start to the year, and I heard they (Portsmouth) were interested in me," Kenny told BBC Radio Solent.

"I had a call with the manager (John Mousinho) and sporting director (Richard Hughes) and I was really motivated by the project and the personal pathway for me."

The 20-year-old, who is the son of former Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny, made 94 appearances during his time at Dundalk, scoring 22 goals and registering 15 assists.

"I understand it's a massive step up - the League of Ireland is an excellent league but the Championship is one of the top leagues in the world," he said.

"Training is sharp, the intensity is very high so it's just about getting to grips with that and improving every day to give myself the best chance of competing in the Championship."

Portsmouth start the new Championship season at home to QPR on Saturday, 15 August (15:00 BST).

Listen to more Portsmouth interviews and content on BBC Sounds.

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

You should never really judge a player by a pre-season friendly, but Portsmouth fans' first, brief sighting of Rocco Shein at Bristol Rovers on Saturday was a promising one.

He looked bright and was clear in his interview afterwards. He is delighted to be in England but wants to reach the Premier League, as everyone in the Championship dreams of.

The fee paid for him is significant - understood to be just shy of £2m to prise him from Fredrikstad in Norway. It is the most Pompey have paid for a player since they were in the Premier League more than 16 years ago.

Shein's fee will only hold that title briefly with Marko Milovanovic's move from Almeria very nearly complete. The initial fee for that move is widely reported to be around £3.5m.

The hopes will be high for both additions. Portsmouth still need a right winger (it is possible that could be Abu Kamara although that feels like another article in itself), a defensive midfielder and they would like another central defender. There is still plenty of work to do but with more money to spend than the past two summers.

However, by Championship standards these are not big fees. If Shein does achieve his dream and reach the top flight, £2m will have been an absolute bargain. Portsmouth were very keen to sign Pelle Mattsson last summer but could not come close to matching the £3.5m Norwich City were able to pay. He had a good debut season and is very much one that got away.

The fee for Milovanovic is around what Portsmouth's total spend was last summer. A crude search suggests at least eight strikers were bought for more in the Championship last summer. If he can become an elite second tier forward it is a great piece of business.

Portsmouth's budget is clearly increasing this season and there is a decent chance it will be outside the bottom three for the first time since they have been back in the division. The past two summers have highlighted just how difficult it is to recruit on a shoestring.

The challenge may now have moved from 'almost impossible' to 'difficult'. But if Pompey can get two or three big arrivals firing then they absolutely can start climbing the division.

Image source, Shutterstock

Portsmouth defender Zak Swanson has hailed the club's retention of boss John Mousinho as a "major part" of his decision to sign a new contract.

Mousinho had been linked with the managerial role at Bristol City before the position went to promotion-winning Lincoln City boss Michael Skubala in May.

But with Mousinho stressing he made no moves to exit the club and Swanson out of contract this summer, the right-back signed a new two-year deal in June.

"That I could play under someone that trusts me and that I've got a really good relationship with, that was a big factor for me and now I'm here," Swanson said.

"He's [Mousinho] a massive part of this football club now. The success we've had in recent years has been mainly down to him and the players at the club."

Swanson is still on the mend from knee surgery but has resumed light training and hopes to play in pre-season.

"I'm in a really good place now, it's feeling really good," Swanson said.

"I want to be back fit for the start of the season, that's where I want to be, but we will have to wait and see."

Listen to the full interview with BBC Radio Solent below or on BBC Sounds here

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Portsmouth have stepped up their interest in Plymouth Argyle's English forward Bim Pepple, 23, while the Pilgrims' Swiss striker Lorent Tolaj, 24, looks bound for Bristol City. (Darren Witcoop via X), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Friday's gossip column here.

Portsmouth defender Terry Devlin says his performances from last season have been thanks to multiple campaigns of dedication and hard work.

The 22-year-old Northern Irishman featured in 40 games and won Pompey's player of the season award.

He was utilised across various positions by John Mousinho, playing at right-back while also appearing in attacking midfield during some matches.

"The success from last season didn't just happen overnight," Devlin told BBC Radio Solent.

"It's the full season before that when I was in and out and sometimes left out of squads and not travelling.

"It was those moments that really counted and when I was doing extras on the pitch after for 20-30 minutes every day and stuff like that there, I think that's what really paid off."

Devlin scored five goals with one assist last season and is now heading into his fourth season at Fratton Park since signing from Glentoran in the summer of 2023.

The versatile defender and midfielder is hoping to better a number of different aspects of his game in pre-season before the Championship campaign gets under way.

"I can improve technically, get better on the ball and receiving the pass," he added.

"This year I want to improve more in the creativity aspect of my game too, I think I got six goals and assists last year and I'm hoping to improve on that.

"I can then be a bit tidier in the final third as well, have a bit more quality in there and then obviously keep up the defensive work."

Image source, Shutterstock

Barnsley have signed Portsmouth striker Makenzie Kirk in a season-long loan deal.

The 22-year-old joined Pompey from St Johnstone last September and scored once in 14 Championship appearances in 2025-26.

The Northern Ireland Under-21 international could make his competitive debut for the Tykes in their EFL Cup first round tie against Wigan Athletic.

"He works hard, likes to press from the front and has shown that he can score goals at a good level," boss Daniel Stendel told the club website., external

Want the latest on Portsmouth's summer transfer window?

Andrew Moon fills us in on whether goalkeepers are still on Pompey's shopping list, squashes rumours about potential targets and offers a possible reason why it's been quiet regarding linked Serbian striker Marko Milovanovic.

Listen to the full update below or on BBC Sounds here

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New Portsmouth signing Rocco Shein is untested in English football - can he adapt?

The Championship will provide a new experience for the 23-year-old, who joined Pompey from Norwegian side Fredrikstad on Tuesday.

He was, however, given minutes in both legs of Fredrikstad's Europa Conference League play-off against Premier League club, and eventual winners, Crystal Palace last season.

And journalist Martin Bjerke thinks that shows the Estonia midfielder's capabilities.

"The level is obviously a bit above but I think he proved against Crystal Palace that he's able to play at a high level," Bjerke said.

"He is in really good physical shape. I think he won all the pre-season testing stuff and I think he runs the most [for Fredrikstad] in a match, so I think he will adapt really well to the league."

Listen to the full analysis above or on BBC Sounds here

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Hungary Under-21 captain Máté Tuboly has rejected an offer from Portsmouth amid other international and Championship interest for the DAC Dunajska Streda midfielder. (Sky Sports via X), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip column here.

Image source, Shutterstock

Fleetwood Town have signed former Wrexham midfielder Andy Cannon on a three-year deal.

Cannon, 30, who was released by the Welsh club at the end of last season, has clocked up 330 senior appearances for clubs including Rochdale, Portsmouth, Hull City and Stockport County.

He spent the second half of last season on loan at Burton Albion.

Cannon told the Fleetwood website what attracted him to the League Two club and he said: "The gaffer wants to be successful, so do I. He's got ambitions, I've got ambitions. I feel we can work together and hopefully have a successful season."

A product of Rochdale's academy, Cannon made his first-team debut in 2014 before going on to establish himself as a key figure at Spotland.

He moved to Portsmouth in January 2019, where he spent two years before joining Championship side Hull.

In December 2022, Cannon completed a move to Wrexham and played an important role during one of the club's most successful periods, helping them achieve three consecutive promotions, from the National League to the Championship.

New Portsmouth arrival Odin Bailey says joining Portsmouth was always his first choice once he was aware of the club's interest.

The midfielder signed a three-year contract with the Championship club after leaving League One Stockport at the end of last season following their play-off final defeat by Bolton Wanderers.

The 26-year-old started his career with Birmingham City and made his senior debut in a 3-0 Carabao Cup defeat by Pompey in August 2019.

"It's a club I've always looked out for. It's one I made my debut against so I've always had a little glance at how they're doing, so to actually be here and be a part of it is a really proud moment for me and my family," Bailey told BBC Radio Solent.

"I heard about the interest towards the back end of last season, my agent told me but as a player you're trying to get promoted so I wasn't thinking too much about it and just knew if I continued in the form I was in, the rest would take care of itself.

"As soon as things got more serious there was only one place I wanted to go and that was Portsmouth."

Bailey became a free agent in the summer when he was released by Stockport having made more than 100 league appearances for the Hatters and helped them win the League Two title in 2024.

"It's very stressful (being a free agent) and it's the first time it's happened in my career," he added.

"It's quite hard that you're playing games and focused on what you're trying to achieve in the season but also if you pick up an injury, it's going to impact you massively.

"These things subconsciously play on your mind so it's been a massive learning curve for me about how to deal with those situations and manage your thoughts and emotions."

Listen to more Portsmouth interviews and content on BBC Sounds.

Portsmouth defender Regan Poole is not thinking about going into the new Championship season in the final year of his contract.

The 28-year-old has made 82 league appearances for Pompey, scoring four goals after joining in July 2023.

"I'm in the last year of my contract, but I play every game like it's my last anyway, and I don't think I'll be changing," Poole told BBC Radio Solent.

"I was delighted to sign my new contract when I did the season before last, and I'll be hoping to do that again, and I need to show I'm capable of performing at this level.

"I hope I've shown that, but every season is different, and hopefully I can be at this football club for a little bit longer."

Portsmouth finished 18th in the Championship last season, eight points clear of relegation, with Poole making 41 league appearances, and he is ready to fight for his place once again.

"We have a fair few [defenders] in the building, good quality central defenders, maybe five or six, which is crazy for two positions, but it's healthy," he said.

"I need to make sure I'm in the team at the start of the season; who with is not my problem."

Portsmouth start the new Championship season at home to QPR on Saturday, 15 August (15:00 BST).

Portsmouth have made a bid for NAC Breda goalkeeper Daniel Bielica. Pompey are reported to have offered €500,000 (£426,125) for the 27-year-old Polish stopper who was relegated from the Eredvisie with NAC last season. (Voetbal International - in Dutch with English translation available), external

You can find more of Friday's EFL gossip here.

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent in the Republic of Ireland

Image source, BBC Radio Solent

One of the reasons Portsmouth opted for Ireland for a pre-season camp this year was the weather.

They've been to southern Europe for the past three seasons and at times it has been brutally hot.

The conditions here have been perfect, clear skies, sunshine but temperatures in the low-to-mid twenties.

Cool enough for what has been a fairly relentless training schedule.

During the season there are so many matches that opportunities for intense training are limited. Not so here.

The players have been doing double sessions, some of which have been long and incredibly physical.

It's interesting to watch John Mousinho on the training ground, he has a clear vision for what he wants done in each drill and demands high standards.

As well as building up fitness, these weeks are important for working on patterns of play and looking at set-pieces.

There is still a lot of work to do in the transfer market and there are just two new faces in the group.

Those are free-agent signing Odin Bailey, who is keeping a close eye on his good friend Jude Bellingham's heroics at the World Cup, and young forward Eoin Kenny, who flew from Ireland to Portsmouth for his medical before quickly jumping back on another plane to head back to his home country with his new squad.

Kenny looks in impressive shape - however, despite leading the group the whole way in one of the runs, he was outsprinted to the finish line by Marlon Pack as a member of the coaching staff shouted "don't let him beat you, he's 40!"

Pack is a long way from 40 and a long way from being finished as a player, he prides himself on his fitness which is still exceptional.

In a rare break from training a Padel tournament was organised for Thursday afternoon. It would be brave to bet against Pack coming out on top.

He happens to be good at just about every sport as well as being incredibly competitive.

Squad bonding is another key objective of this week.

There is hope, optimism and determination that this campaign can be different from the past two where Pompey have spent the season battling the drop.

The playing budget has been increased although it is understood it is still likely to be in the bottom quarter of the Championship.

Key incomings will arrive soon. However, sporting director Richard Hughes was tight-lipped when asked about Estonian Rocco Shein and Serbian striker Marko Milovanovic earlier this week.

There is more money to spend than there has been in previous years.

But there will also need to be outgoings - more than half a dozen are likely to depart otherwise players will end up being left out of the 25-man squad.

Moves away for Jacob Farrell and Ibane Bowat have been discussed by Mousinho and others will need to go as well.

The Wrexham interest in player of the season Terry Devlin has not disappeared.

The hard work is well under way, but we'll have to wait the best part of 10 months to find out what it will achieve.

Loans often happen later in the transfer window. Portsmouth want to spend more money on permanent signings.

You would rather spend your money on permanent signings, loans are a bit like renting a house rather than paying off a mortgage.

The World Cup will delay any loans and the Premier League does not start until the fourth Saturday in August so squad players and young players who might be loaned out will happen quite late this year.

BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator answers fans' questions while away with the team on their pre-season trip in the Republic of Ireland.

You can listen to more Portsmouth features and interviews on BBC Sounds.

Millwall, Portsmouth, Watford, Huddersfield Town, Oxford United, Reading and Sheffield Wednesday are all trying to sign former Peterborough United midfielder Archie Collins, 26, for free after his contract with the Posh expired this summer. (Yorkshire Post), external

For more transfer news and rumours, read Thursday's full gossip column here.

BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth FC commentator Andrew Moon has joined the Portsmouth squad for their pre-season training camp in the Republic of Ireland.

The group are not playing any official games during their time in Ireland but have been putting the work in to get prepared for the upcoming Championship season.

After this camp, they have friendlies scheduled against Woking, Aldershot, Bristol Rovers, Wycombe and Farnborough before travelling to Germany to take on Darmstadt 98.