'Sounds like Rob Atkinson. Risky. Can’t judge him till he plays': Mixed Portsmouth verdict as Sunderland man closes in on move
Pompey are closing in on Sunderland defender Aji Alese as their fourth January signing.
Pompey fans on social media have highlighted Rob Atkinson’s impressive Fratton Park stay last term as a key reason to be excited over Aji Alese.
The head coach currently has Hayden Matthews (ankle), Josh Knight (back) and Conor Shaughnessy (quad) ruled out for a significant period due to injury, while Regan Poole (groin) and Ibane Bowat (back) are doubts for this weekend’s game against West Brom.
Alese is expected to pen a loan deal for the second-half of the campaign on the south coast as he continues his fitness comeback.
The 25-year-old has missed more than a year’s worth of first-team action after suffering a broken leg in the Black Cats’ FA Cup tie against Stoke City in January 2025.
The defender has amassed two appearances for Sunderland in the Premier League 2 this month, having been sidelined for almost 12 months.
Alese, though, has been troubled by injury throughout his career, which has limited him to just 71 senior appearances for both the Black Cats, West Ham, Accrington Stanley and Cambridge United.
Pompey were in a similar position this time last season and recruited Atkinson from Bristol City on loan for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign.
And supporters on social media have used Atkinson as an reason why not to judge players without already seeing them in action.
But Alese’s previous injury issues are of concern to other fans, who have raised their concerns over the move.
Here’s the best of the reaction from X.
Mixed Pompey verdict over Sunderland man
@SteveoLarham: Left-footed CB who has been injured for a year. Sounds just like Rob Atkinson! Decent player to be fair. Would be an upgrade on the left side of defence whilst Shaughnessy is out.
@ChrisRe43862970: Clearly a player there but again hampered by injuries. Hopefully at some point we will think twice before squinnying about having loads of injuries when considering the profile of players we get
@StueyW1986: Please put an option to buy, could end up top player.
@pompeyfan2021: Literally the same deal as Rob Atkinson last season. Some work some don’t, it’s a game of chance ultimately.
@OliverHarry: He’s clearly very good according to Sunderland fans, massively risky injury wise.
@will464775: Everyone who’s critical should remember big Rob Atkinson walked so more injury prone players could run.
@Mattdinio: I wanna like this but It's like we don't learn. The only reason we need to sign a CB is because all ours are injury prone. So we decide to sign an injury prone CB...
@Willmott3Sam: He’ll fit right in to our injured back line. Don’t judge till he’s played and all that.
@NeilCooper14863: 25 years old and played 52 senior games risky.
@LukeEllisPUP: Aji Alese looks like a very #pompey type signing. Good player, terrible injury record, the type of risk we constantly take to get value for what we’re prepared to spend
@TommoOnX: Rob Atkinson was similar last season and look how good he was. Players get injured, can’t judge him till he plays
@leepfc76: What is it with Pompey signing players who have just recovered from injury or have had chequered injury records. I’ve never heard of this player either so very underwhelming. Not good business on the face of it for me.
@pfc_sam: I would be worried as he hasn't played in a year, BUT big Rob Atkinson has proven that means nothing and also a leg break is a bit different to muscular injury.