Why Portsmouth decision on Crystal Palace youngster and West Brom loanee was the right call
Hindolo Mustapha could very easily have been a Pompey player this season after John Mousinho was spotted checking out the talented attacker on numerous occasions at the end of 2024-25 campaign
This time last year, Crystal Palace youngster Hindolo Mustapha was being heavily tipped for a move to Fratton Park.
With Pompey boss John Mousinho spotted on numerous occasions casting his eye over the attacking midfielder following 10 goals and seven assists during the Eagles’ Premier League 2 campaign, the Sierra Leone international ticked a lot of boxes as the Fratton Park side looked to bolster their atacking options.
An anticipated move to the south coast never materialised, though, for Palace’s under-21 player of the year. Instead, a loan move loan to Bundesliga 2 club FC Nürnberg materiaised for Mustapha as Pompey turned their attacking attentions elsewhere, including Adrian Segecic, John Swift and Conor Chaplin.
Fellow Selhurst Park teenager Franco Umeh was also signed, meaning Mousinho’s reconnaissance missions bore some fruit!
But what ever happened to Mustapha has he sought to make the step-up to senior football? Did he live up to the promise that was clearly on the display for the young Eagles?
FC Nürnberg loan cut short
Unfortunately, the answer to the latter question is no.
The 19-year-old’s German stay was meant to be a season-long loan, with the attacking midfielder expected to thrive under the leadership of former Germany international striker Miroslav Klose.
Yet the talented teenager headed back to Palace five months early without making a senior appearance - or match-day squad for that matter - for the Max-Morlock Stadium side.
He also returned to Selhurst back on the back of some criticism. Speaking to Bild in November, Klose said: ‘It’s important that they have the quality and the right attitude towards the sport. Because I’m not one to push them to run. I might mention it three times, but that’s the maximum I’ll say in individual sessions. And then I’m done.’
West Brom hand Mustapha chance to salvage season
Pompey’s Championship rivals West Brom handed Mustapha an opportunity to salvage something from his 2025-26 season when they brought the forward to the Hawthorns during the January transfer window.
However, it too proved fruitless under two different WBA managers.
Handed his debut by Eric Ramsay in the Baggies’ 3-1 FA Cup defeat against Norwich at Carrow Road on February 14, the Palace loanee was substituted at half-time.
He would then not feature again for Ramsay, who was sacked on February 15.
Interim boss James Morrison utilised Mustapha as an 89th-minute substitute in West Brom’s 1-1 draw with Southampton in March.
Yet that proved to be the youngter’s last appearance as Morrison turned to others to get the club out of serious relegation trouble. Indeed, five unused substitute appearances were recorded during the Baggies’ Championship run-in, while Mustapha failed to make the match-day squad for any of the Hawthorns outfit’s crucial last four games.
In the end, West Brom finished the season 21st in the table and four points above the relegation zone.
As for Mustapha, his campaign ended with a much-needed run-out for parent club Palace’s under-21s at Manchester United.
Although it was for only 20 minutes, it proved to be much-needed game time during a season that produced just 47 minutes of senior football.
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