Transfer latest in Portsmouth pursuit of in-demand £2.1m midfielder for first signing of the summer
The midfielder was named as a substitute for Fredrikstad’s friendly against Elfsborg
Pompey are reportedly closing in on their first signing of the summer.
According to journalist Eirik Nesset Hjelvik, the Blues are poised to seal a 2.5m Euro move for Rocco Shein.
The 22-year-old, who has also been linked with Millwall and Cardiff, was named on the bench for Fredrikstad FK’s friendly against Elfsborg this afternoon.
It is not clear whether the midfielder was called upon to feature in the goalless draw, with the Norwegian club’s official website not carrying details of substitutions.
‘The midfielder has probably played his last game for the club’
However, TV 2 are claiming Shein has ‘probably’ played his last game for the Eliteserien club, who are presently involved in a series of three friendlies during their mid-season break.
If the claimed transfer is correct, Pompey will be paying £2.16m for the Estonian international, who was once a team-mate of Adrian Segecic.
The pair played alongside each other at Dutch club FC Dordrecht in 2023-2024, where Segecic was on a season-long loan from Sydney FC.
Change in Tornante transfer policy
That figure would represent a substantial increase on individual transfer fees paid by Tornante since becoming owners in August 2017.
Since returning to the Championship two years ago, Hayden Matthews, Luke Le Roux, Mark Kosznovszky and Josh Knight were each recruited for £1m-plus, with largely disappointing results.
However, the Blues’ financial muscle has been bolstered by the February sale of Callum Lang to Preston for around £2.1m and this summer has seen them associated with spending higher fees.
The Blues are also pursuing Almeria’s Marko Milovanovic, while free agent Archie Collins and DAC Dunajska Streda midfielder Mate Tuboly have also been linked.
Shein, who joined Fredrikstad in January 2025, has totalled 11 games, two goals and two assists this season, helping them into 10th place in the Eliteserien at present.
They have also sold 16-year-old Eirik Granaas to Porto this month in a deal reportedly worth up to 50m in Norwegian krone, the equivalent of £3.82m.
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