Indeed, the summer of 2021 would be characterised by a seemingly endless procession of unknown faces, many of which turned out during the Blues’ friendly campaign.
While the likes of Gassan Ahadme, Jay Mingi and Jayden Reid remained, others had to go elsewhere in the hunt for a new football club.
You may not recall many of them, but the following 10 players all trained – and played – for Pompey under Danny Cowley in July 2021...
You may not recall many of them, but the following 10 players all trained – and played – for Pompey under Danny Cowley in July 2021...
9. Layton Ndukwu
Having been released by Leicester City, he had two trial spells at Fratton Park in the summer of 2021 and was rejected on both occasions.
Unable to find a club for a year, in August 2022 the winger joined Albanian side Kukesi, competing in the Kategoria Superiore.
In March 2023, Ndukwu returned to English football after signing for Southern League Premier Division Central side Barwell.
Picture: Michael Steele/Getty Images Photo: Michael Steele
Released by Chelsea in 2019, the former Dulwich Hamlet left-back trialled at Pompey and Sheffield Wednesday, without success.
In November 2021, he signed a deal with Birmingham City until the season’s end and was named on the bench for three Championship matches, without appearing.
Masampu joined Metropolitan Police in April 2023, featuring in Southern League Premier South.
Picture: Clive Howes - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images Photo: Clive Howes - Chelsea FC