Sources: Portsmouth agree to sign Arsenal star Zak Swanson

Sources: Portsmouth agree to sign Arsenal star Zak Swanson

Wayne Veysey

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

Published on

Portsmouth have agreed to sign Arsenal defender Zak Swanson, Football Insider understands.

The 21-year-old has been given the green light to leave the London giants after a loan spell in Holland with MVV Maastricht in 2020.

A recruitment source has told Football Insider that Portsmouth have beaten off interest from a number of clubs to land Swanson.

Pompey boss Danny Cowley has made the youngster a priority signing as he looks to build a squad capable of challenging for promotion from League One next season.

Swanson, who has come through the ranks at Arsenal, had a loan spell in Holland with MVV Maastricht in 2020 and he was a regular for the club's Under-23s.

Cowley has already added Marlon Pack to the Pompey squad who finished 10th in the 2021-22 campaign, 10 points behind the play-off positions.

A right-back by trade, Swanson is capable of playing across the back line and in midfield.

Mahlon Romeo was Pompey's first-choice right-back for the 2021-22 season but he has now signed for Cardiff City on a permanent deal.

Swanson has been training with the Arsenal first team this summer and was named on the bench for the final 15 Premier League games of 2021-22.

He did not make his senior bow for the Gunners but played three times when on loan with MVV Maastricht in the Netherlands' second-tier.

The Cambridge-born ace scored twice and provided two assists in 32 games for Arsenal Under-23s.

www.footballinsider247.com