Ex-Portsmouth attacker returns home with a bang to fire up ambitious club's promotion push
The promising attacker was released by Blues boss John Mousinho in the summer of 2024
After 22 months away, a former Pompey player is back on the south coast - with a bang.
It has taken absolutely no time for Destiny Ojo to make a winning impact, having helped his new club to a stunning victory.
The highly-regarded attacker was snapped up by ambitious AFC Portchester last week, having already featured for Whitehawk and Three Bridges this season.
The 21-year-old, who was released by Pompey in the summer of 2024, was thrown into the Royals’ starting XI for their tough trip to Isthmian League South Central Division leaders Leatherhead on Saturday.
And Ojo made an encouraging debut in an outstanding 3-2 success for Gav Spurway’s men, which maintains their play-off push, keeping them in fifth position.
Having signed the former Blues youngster to bolster their promotion aspirations, hopes are high that the ex-Cliftonville attacker can provide crucial momentum.
‘He’s going to be a good signing for us’
‘Maybe he was a little bit nervous, it took him a little while to get going, but you can see his quality once he gets his touch right. He goes at people, he can cause problems, so he’s going to be an asset for us going forward.
We may have to get him a bit fitter I feel, looking at today (Saturday), but all round he’s going to be a good signing for us and we just have to keep pushing on.’
A double from Ryan Pennery, plus a Spencer Spurway goal, earned Portchester a prized win at Leatherhead, with Ojo playing 90 minutes before being withdrawn in stoppage time.
As a Pompey Academy youngster, the attacker hit the headlines in June 2022 when Danny Cowley chose him to train with the first-team during pre-season amid a striker shortage.
However, in the first session of his second week, the former Lancing player broke his ankle in a freak training incident, sidelining him for seven months.
The following summer, with John Mousinho as head coach, Ojo, now a third-year scholar, netted for the Blues in July 2023 friendlies against Gosport and the Hawks.
He subsequently spent the 2023-24 season on loan at Southern League Premier South Poole, scoring six goals in 22 matches, before spells with Sholing and Lancing.
Fratton Park departure
However, Ojo was released from Fratton Park in the summer of 2024, and had unsuccessful trials at Burnley, Colchester, Horsham, Woking and Bognor in a bid to find a club.
A move to Northern Ireland Premiership side Cliftonville followed in August 2024, where he scored twice in 17 outings in the 2024-25.
Now, after spells with Three Bridges and Whitehawk, Ojo has returned to the city to link-up with promotion-chasing Portchester.