Chelsea 'expected' to reach transfer agreement this week

10 Aug 2026 15:02 BST | 3 min read

Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

Accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020

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Chelsea winger Ryan Kavuma-McQueen is expected to be formally announced as a Portsmouth player this week, with talks over a season-long loan deal edging towards their conclusion.

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The 17-year-old, who made his senior debut for Chelsea versus Port Vale in the FA Cup last season, is set to become Pompey’s seventh signing of the summer as they continue their bid to establish themselves as a regular Championship side.

Kavuma-McQueen scored 13 goals in 26 games for Chelsea’s youth teams last year and he was a regular for the club’s U21s as they won the Premier League 2 regular season title.

He was subsequently included in the Blues’ senior squad for their pre-season tour of Australia and Asia, and negotiations over a loan move to Portsmouth are expected to conclude following the club’s return to England.

That is according to BBC Sport’s Nizaar Kinsella, who posted on X: “Talks are very much trending in the right direction. Expecting Kavuma-McQueen to be a Portsmouth loanee before the end of the week.”

Portsmouth face QPR in their first Championship fixture of the new season on Saturday and while Kavuma-McQueen is unlikely to feature, he could make his debut for the club the following weekend against newly-promoted Lincoln City.

© IMAGO - Ryan Kavuma-McQueen is set to join Portsmouth on loan

Analysis: Which other youngsters could leave Chelsea on loan?

So far this summer, Chelsea have already completed loan deals for academy starlets Jesse Derry, Harrison Murray-Campbell, Genesis Antwi, Max Merrick, Kaiden Wilson, Hudson Sands and Ollie Harrison.

Meanwhile, in addition to Kavuma-McQueen, the Blues are also eager to finalise loan agreements for Reggie Walsh, Shumaira Mheuka and Ishe Samuels-Smith before the end of Transfer Deadline Day on 1 September.

Walsh, who has caught the eye during pre-season, is reportedly in talks over a move to League One outfit Wigan Athletic, while fellow third-tier side Notts County are locked in negotiations to sign Samuels-Smith.

Mheuka, on the other hand, is expected to sign a new contract at Chelsea before leaving the club on loan. He won the Premier League 2 Player of the Year award last season, after netting 18 goals in 19 games, and the Blues hierarchy are eager for him to play regular senior football in order to ensure his development continues.