Alese has agreed a loan deal at Fratton Park that will see him play for Pompey for the remainder of the campaign. The 25-year-old joined Sunderland from West Ham in the summer of 2022 but has had an injury-hit time on Wearside. As a result, Sunderland agreed to Portsmouth's loan request, with Alese available to make his Pompey debut this weekend. Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman said: "Aji has been incredibly patient and worked diligently to prepare himself for this next opportunity. "The Championship is a league he's familiar with and this move is the ideal step for him in the second half of the season."