Former Portsmouth striker Kusini Yengi being offered escape route out of Aberdeen by host of League One clubs - including Stockport and Wigan
Former Pompey striker Kusini Yengi’s free-transfer move to Aberdeen quickly turned sour - now he could be heading back to League One
Kusini Yengi could be back blazing a trail in familiar territory before the month is out.
The former Pompey striker is widely expected to leave Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen during the January transfer window, with his free transfer move to Pittodrie in the summer failing to match expectations.
The 26-year-old has made just 10 appearances for the Dons, who sacked manager Jimmy Thelin last week as they sit eighth in the table. He’s also only managed to find the back of the net on one occasion since move north of the border, with his effort against Morton in the Scottish League Cup in August his only goal for the whole of 2025.
That return hasn’t stopped Yengi being a wanted man, though. According to reports, there’s a host of clubs in his former League One stomping ground that are ready to hand the Aussie international an escape route in the coming days and weeks.
League One interest in former Pompey striker Kusini Yengi
Yengi, who joined Pompey from A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers in 2023, scored nine league goals in 26 League One appearances during a memorable maiden campaign on the south coast.
He was a key reason why John Mousinho’s side secured the league title and returned to the Championship for the first time in more than a decade. But he was unable to replicate it on the Blues’ return to the second tier of English football, with a combination of injuries and poor form seeing him feature just 14 times without scoring. He was subsequently released last summer, despite Pompey having he option of extending his stay by another 12 months.
His reputation for putting fear into League One defences hasn’t diminished, though, if the latest transfer news is to be believed.
Indeed, according to the Press and Journal, five current third-tier clubs want to sign the front man before the close of the transfer window. And two of them could offer him the chance of another promotion medal, with both Stockport and Stevenage among those reportedly keen.
Wigan, Blackpool and relegated-threatened Rotherham United have also been credited with an interest in the Socceroos international, who is keen to find a way back into Tony Popovic’s international squad ahead of this summer’s World Cup.
Meanwhile, League Two Gillingham have been mentioned as potential suitors, too.
The Press and Journal add that Yengi’s representatives have held talks with at least one of those interested parties. A permanent move to League One looks unlikely due to the reported finances involved. However, it’s understood interested clubs in Japan, South Korea and the MLS would provide that route out of Pittodrie, where Yengi is contract until 2027.
Pompey want striker in January
Yengi’s search for a new club comes at a time when the Blues are also on the lookout for additional firepower.
Pompey’s two main striking options this season, Colby Bishop and Makenzie Kirk, have two goals between them all season, with both frontmen featuring in a combined total of 33 games this term.
Pompey’s top scorer in the league is attacking midfielder Adrian Segecic with three goals. That’s just one more than right-back Terry Devlin and Minhyeok Yang, who was recalled by Spurs this week before being allowed to join Championship leaders Coventry City.
The Blues’ only other central striking option at present is young Aussie striker Thomas Waddingham, who has been out injured since the end of August.