A sad farewell, welcoming the unknown and superb early business: An intriguing Portsmouth transfer window
There were three signings and two departures on a busy deadline day for Pompey
Ultimately, the sole deadline-day surprise was the arrival of a Senegalese central defender.
And even that incoming arrival had been broken by the peerless Fabrizio Romano more than four hours before Pompey’s official unveiling of Madiodio Dia.
A busy transfer deadline day actually only livened up beyond the 7pm cut-off point, with deal sheets in play, yet with three newcomers and two departures, it matched John Mousinho’s prediction that it would be his busiest final day yet as Blues head coach.
Not that the mischievous Mousinho didn’t toss in a few curve balls in a bid to throw everyone off the scent, namely declaring Pompey wouldn’t be signing a new striker during yesterday’s pre-match press conference.
That despite Colby Bishop being ruled out for up to four weeks with an ankle injury and Thomas Waddingham still sidelined by injury since September.
By that stage, of course, the pursuit of Jacob Brown was common knowledge, with the Blues having stepped up interest over the weekend, thereby gazumping fellow admirers Barnsley late on.
Still, the 27-year-old former Stoke attacker arrived on loan from Luton and was soon followed by Gustavo Caballero and, of course, Dia.
Championship-ready players
The latter two hardly fit the Championship-ready criteria previously spoken about by Mousinho, having recently played in Brazil and Norway respectively, nonetheless they do represent intriguing signings.
Caballero is a no-lose situation for Pompey, who can assess the Paraguayan under-23 international at close hand from now until the end of the season before deciding whether to take up a reported option to buy.
It’s a potentially exciting capture which represents the most unlikely signing of the post-Premier League years. Although it remains to be seen whether the Blues possess the infrastructure and player care service to help him settle on the south coast.
In the case of Dia, who has been playing his football in the Norwegian top flight with FK Haugesund until their relegation in the most recent season, he was chosen as an alternative to Luke Graham.
The highly-regarded Dundee centre-half was yesterday scouring afternoon flight times after an encouraging breakthrough in negotiations. However, for whatever reason, the prospective move fell through.
Cue Dia’s arrival for an undisclosed fee on a two-and-a-half year deal to strengthen a position which was also bolstered at the end of last week with the arrival of Aji Alese on loan from Sunderland.
Farewell to League One champions
There were also farewells on deadline day to two members of the League One title-winners who had both arrived at Fratton Park in January 2024, enjoying very different fortunes.
Tom McIntyre’s contract was cancelled by mutual consent ahead of its summer expiry, having featured 14 times, with his most recent outing in January 2025, before loan spells at Charlton and Bradford.
Then there was Callum Lang, the long-running transfer saga which first emerged in July and was resurrected this month - with Preston North End, on this occasion, successful.
Undoubtedly, the nature of the lengthy pursuit meant the blow was eased when it finally arrived, but it was never straightforward. Lang didn’t train on Friday, yet was still at Pompey’s training ground saying his goodbyes to team-mates and staff.
The loss of a hugely talented performer and key figure in the dressing room can perhaps be mitigated by a transfer fee of around £1.7m and an infuriating injury record which had restricted him to just 11 appearances in the last 12 months.
However, that outlay by Preston was worth considerably more than Pompey’s entire January transfer window business on seven players.
Indeed, with four loans, one free transfer, a £500,000-valued Ebou Adams and whatever Dia’s undisclosed fee is worth, nobody could claim owners Tornante have been particularly frivolous.
Instant Fratton Park hits
Still, Pompey’s recruitment model, irrespective of the transfer window, has been built upon finding bargains and gems and, so far, loanee Millenic Alli and Adams have been excellent captures.
Throw in free agent Keshi Anderson and that trio of new signings have helped the Blues secure eight points from their last four matches to climb four points clear of the Championship relegation zone.
It remains to be seen whether Alese, Brown, Caballero and Dia have the same impact, yet it has been an excellent introduction to Pompey from the earlier transfer window signings.
With retaining their Championship status once again the overriding priority, surely few could disagree with the short-termism shown in the January window, whether it be loans or free transfers.
Sporting director Rich Hughes has overseen three strong Januarys in terms of recruitment. He was already halfway there thanks to Alli and Adams - hopefully Pompey’s three deadline day arrivals can maintain that encouraging momentum.