Transfer news: Former West Ham striker Michail Antonio makes surprise move after being named-dropped by Portsmouth boss
A former Premier League star has made a surprise move after being discussed internally by Portsmouth and being tipped for a move to Championship rivals Charlton Athletic.
Former West Ham United forward Michail Antonio has made a surprise transfer move just hours after Pompey boss John Mousinho admitted he considered signing the free agent.
The experienced campaigner has joined Qatari side Al-Sailiya on a short-term contract and disappointed Charlton after they were keen to bring the striker to The Valley for their current battle to beat the drop.
The 35-year-old has been without a club since leaving the Hammers last summer. He’s been overseeing a painstaking recovery from a broken leg and other injuries he sustained in a horror car crash last year.
Since departing West Ham, the Jamaica international has trained with Brentford and Leicester City, but remained a free agent as the closing months of the campaign rapidly approach.
However, Antonio is now back in football after agreeing to a contract with Al-Sailiya and he will hope to make his first appearance since he came off the bench for West Ham in a 3-1 defeat against Leicester City in early December 2024 over the coming weeks.
The veteran striker had reportedly held talks with Charlton over the last month and was said to have undergone a medical with the Addicks. However, as they hesitated, Antonio penned a short-term deal with the Qatari club and could make six appearances for them between now and the end of the Stars League season.
Pompey were also said to be considering a move for Antonio prior to his move to Qatar - but manager Mousinho stressed such a move would be difficult as he assessed the merits of securing a free agent during the final months of the season.
What did John Mousinho say about a possible move for Michail Antonio?
Talking to The News this week, about free agents, the Blues boss said: ‘Without being harsh on anyone like that, I think, physically, having been in a really serious car accident, bringing in a fantastic Premier League player like that, who is one we flagged and we looked at, we didn’t think it was the right profile to necessarily bring in. There wasn’t a huge amount else in that market who we felt could come in and affect the starting XI or squad. I guess that’s the take.
‘It’s very difficult to pick up free agents who you think can come in and affect the Championship, at this stage of the season. We have done it in the past. We did it with Lee Evans and had a bit of success there. I think when we signed Lee it took him another three or four months (to get up to speed).
‘I think he had an outstanding season last with Blackpool. He was good with us, but I think we helped him get back to the levels of physicality needed.
‘He was good with us, but not the Lee Evans levels we knew previously and what he got to last year. Alex (Milosevic) was brilliant when we brought him in, a senior pro who was great to have around the place - but we couldn’t get him to the levels required.
‘Alex then left and subsequently retired, he was the best option we had on the list. He was a really good player, Swedish international who kept himself in good nick. But if you’ve been out of the game a little while it’s just very, very difficult.’