Portsmouth, Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday-linked man makes surprise return to former club as search continues
Pompey were one of several clubs linked with midfielder Archie Collins earlier this summer.
Archie Collins was a name touted with a move to Fratton Park in July, but speculation proved to be wide of the mark.
Pompey were linked with the 26-year-old earlier this summer as clubs in the Championship and League One were reportedly put on red alert following his Peterborough United exit.
The Peterborough Telegraph claimed the Blues, Oxford United, Leicester City, Sheffield Wednesday were all keen, while other outlets suggested Watford, Millwall, Huddersfield Town and Lincoln City were also tracking the midfielder.
The Blues boss told The News in July: ‘We’re not signing Archie, there’s nothing in that. I know Archie very well as a player, but that wasn’t something we looked at.’
Despite being tipped with as many as eight clubs during the window so far, the Taunton-born talent is set to begin the new campaign without a club.
Just three days before the curtain lifts on the 2026-27 league season in the EFL, the former Peterborough United man is still on the hunt of a fresh start, which has raised questions from some Posh supporters over his departure.
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Pompey linked-man turns to former club as search continues
Still without a club, the midfielder has turned to former club Exeter to keep his fitness up, with Devon Live revealing the St James Park youth product has been in training.
While a permanent return to the League Two club has been rubbished, head coach Matt Taylor has explained why the Grecians opened the door for a temporary comeback - and why his involvement can be beneficial for his League Two side.
Speaking to the club’s official website, he said: ‘He (Archie Collins) will always be welcome back. Anyone who's played for Exeter City and served the club in the right way and come through our academy will always be welcome back here.
‘Archie is using us at the moment to get himself ready for his his next move and we wish him all the best in relation to that and we're using Archie to to raise the standards to improve the the level of training.
‘The more good players you've got on the training pitch, the more the realisation of where players are and what's needed to get to the the required level is.
‘He's on show and it helps the players. So, great to have Archie back with us for a couple of days. It might be longer, we don't know. But we do know that he's going to go on to bigger and better things and he certainly deserves that.’
Collins rose through the ranks with Exeter, making his debut aged 18 in a 2017 EFL Trophy defeat to Chelsea U23s.
The playmaker went on to amass 220 appearances in all competitions for the Grecians, collecting 31 goal contributions, before joining Peterborough for an undisclosed fee in 2023.
During his three-year stay with Posh, the 26-year-old netted eight goals and provided 14 assists in 159 outings and also collected a clean sweep in Peterborough’s end-of-season awards last term.
But with three days to go until the league campaign gets underway, Collins is still continuing his search for a new club.