Former Portsmouth and Birmingham winger joins European outfit on two-year deal to end injury nightmare

Jayden Reid has made his long-awaited return to the game.

The former Pompey winger, who was released by the Blues at the end of last season, has been without a club since May 2023. However, the popular player has finally landed a new team, with Finnish Premier Division side IFK Mariehamn announcing this week that they’ve handed the 22-year-old a two-year deal.

The move has materialised after Reid’s former Blues team-mate, Josh Oluwayemi, also agreed a move to Finland, with the keeper signing for FC Lahti earlier this month. The two clubs go head-to-head next month, setting up a potential Pompey reunion at the Lahden Stadion, Lahti on February 23.

The two-year deal signed by Reid will come as a huge boost given the injury issues he endured during his two-season stay at Fratton Park.

The former Manchester United and Birmingham winger initially impressed on trial in the summer of 2021 and was handed a one-year deal by then boss Danny Cowley. Yet an ACL injury suffered in a pre-season friendly at Luton ruled him out for the whole of the 2021-22 season.

On his comeback a year later, after being handed a new Blues deal, the winger suffered a hamstring injury in a pre-season trip to Bristol City, before suffering a second ACL injury on the same knee in October 2022.

Reid was reluctantly let go by Pompey following the conclusion of the 2022-23 season without actually making a competitive appearance for the club.

No doubt, everyone associated with Pompey will wish him the best of luck as he links up with IFK Mariehamn. They return to action of Friday, with a game against HJK Helsinki in the Liigacup.