Portsmouth sign Kavuma-McQueen on loan from Chelsea

Portsmouth have signed Chelsea winger Ryan Kavuma-McQueen on a season-long loan.

The 17-year-old is a product of Chelsea's academy and has made one senior appearance for the club, during a 7-0 victory over Port Vale in the FA Cup.

He signed professional terms with the west London side in January and last season made the first-team bench for Champions League matches against Paris St-Germain and Ajax.

He also made Chelsea's match-day squad for Premier League matches against Liverpool and Tottenham at the end of last season.

Kavuma-McQueen has progressed through the levels in Chelsea's academy, playing regularly for their Under-18s and U21 sides.

The young attacker, who can play on both wings, will compete and play alongside new signing Abu Kamara, Josh Murphy, Harvey Blair, Eoin Kenny and Luke Brooke-Smith in Pompey's wide areas.

"We've been in the market for wingers for quite a while and Ryan ticks all the boxes of the profile of player that we want to bring in," boss John Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"He's quick, direct, can play off both sides and he's only 17 so that probably tells you how highly we rate him and how highly Chelsea rate him.

"He was away with the first team this pre-season and played minutes out on their tour.

"We've tracked him throughout his youth career and he made the step up last year into the 21s side so we're really excited to get him through the door.

"I think he's going to fit the way that we want to play really well and we're really pleased to get this one done."

Nizaar Kinsella, BBC Sport Football reporter

Portsmouth are signing a winger who is highly regarded both at Chelsea and across English football.

There was great relief at Cobham when Kavuma-McQueen agreed his first professional contract last season amid interest from rival clubs.

It was crucial for Chelsea to avoid a repeat of the situation that saw Rio Ngumoha leave the academy to join Liverpool in 2024.

Kavuma-McQueen was playing in Premier League 2 at the age of 16 and quickly established himself as one of the division's most dangerous attackers.

He also made headlines in September when he scored four goals for England Under-17s in a 7-5 victory over Germany.

Those close to him said that, having regularly played above his age group, he found it easier competing against players of his own age.

It bodes well that, after making his professional debut last season and featuring on Chelsea's pre-season tour, he is set for a first loan spell at a high level with Portsmouth as he looks to adapt to the demands of senior football.