Seven-and-a-half months and counting - the wait continues for a new Portsmouth signing

While it’s more than a year since a fresh arrival was recruited from the Football League.

They are the damning statistics behind the Blues’ frustrating lack of output in the transfer window to date.

A loan deal arrangement with Barnsley for Cameron McGeehan on January 7 represents the most recent newcomer to Fratton Park.

Of course, Pompey can point to Sean Raggett signing a two-year deal earlier this month following his release from Norwich.

However, the central defender does not signify a fresh face to lift the Fratton faithful, having already made 38 appearances during last season’s loan.

Pompey can also highlight the shuddering impact of the salary cap and a 22-man squad limit, dictating they can bring just three more senior players to Fratton Park.

As it stands, though, the team which perished on penalties in the League One play-off semi-final have welcomed no more additions since the window opened on July 27.

On the other hand, they have lost Christian Burgess, Steve Seddon, Ross McCrorie, McGeehan and Oli Hawkins, who all featured during that play-off campaign against Oxford United.

Regardless, it has been 226 days since McGeehan became the club’s most recent arrival – a scenario which has hardly raised the spirits of a restless Pompey support.

Meanwhile, it is approaching 13 months since the Blues last secured a new recruit from a Football League club.

That was on July 31, 2019, when John Marquis arrived in a deal from Doncaster worth in excess of £1m.

Last summer, Kenny Jackett also spent heavily on Ellis Harrison (£450,000) and Marcus Harness (around £800,000), using money received from the sales of Matt Clarke and Jamal Lowe.

Marquis would actually signify Pompey’s final signing of that summer’s transfer window.

Since then, Reeco Hackett-Fairchild has been snapped up for an undisclosed fee from Bromley.

The left-winger, who has featured just once for the Blues since his January 6 entrance, was one of three signings that month.

The others arriving in January were Steve Seddon on loan from Birmingham and McGeehan.

Considering Hackett-Fairchild’s elevation from non-league, Marquis is the last fresh face to have joined permanently from a Football League club.

It should also be noted that, in March, free agent Duncan Turnbull was landed on a one-and-a-half year deal following a successful trial.

Although the American goalkeeper is regarded as third choice and was not with the squad for their training camp in Five Lakes, Essex, next week.

Of course, there remains time to add to their current 19-man senior squad – and the likelihood is there will be fresh signings.

The summer transfer window closes at 11pm on October 5.

However, a domestic window will remain for the Premier League and Football League until 5pm on October 16.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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