Through a statement on the official website, Championship club Portsmouth have announced that Super Eagles-eligible central defender Ajibola Alese has been loaned in from Premier League outfit Sunderland.

Alese will spend the remainder of the season at Portsmouth, who sit 21st in the Championship table after twenty-seven games played.

The 25-year-old has returned to fitness after spending almost the entire first half of the campaign sidelined with a shoulder injury.

In his bid to build match fitness, he took part in two Premier League 2 fixtures against Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, totaling 107 minutes.

Alese appeared in twelve matches last term as the Black Cats secured a return to the Premier League via the playoffs.

The versatile defender is well acquainted with the Championship, having made 40 appearances for Sunderland over the course of three seasons.

Speaking on the signing of Alese, Portsmouth coach John Mousinho said: “We’re delighted to welcome Aji to the club and want to thank Sunderland for loaning him to us.

"He’s a strong defender who is also comfortable on the ball and has experience of playing Championship football.

"We are short on centre-backs at the moment and he exactly fits the profile of what we have been looking for."

A product of the West Ham academy, Alese spent time on loan at Accrington Stanley and Cambridge United during his spell with the London club. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel