**Swansea Forward Florian Bianchini Departs on Loan to Portsmouth for New Championship Campaign**
Swansea City have confirmed that forward Florian Bianchini will spend the 2025/26 season on loan at Portsmouth, as the Frenchman seeks increased opportunities for first-team football at another Championship side. The move, announced late on Thursday, is subject to international clearance and marks yet another change in personnel for the Swans during what has already been a busy summer.
Bianchini, who joined Swansea from French outfit SC Bastia ahead of the previous season, has found securing a regular starting spot challenging under the management of Alan Sheehan. During his first twelve months in South Wales, the 24-year-old amassed 38 appearances, but notably, the majority—28 in total—came from the bench. He left his mark by netting three times, registering goals against Oxford United, Leeds United, and Sheffield United.
The club released an official statement which read: “Swansea City forward Florian Bianchini has joined Portsmouth on loan for the 2025/26 season, subject to international clearance. The Frenchman links up with the Fratton Park club looking to get more game-time under his belt at Championship level.” The statement concluded by wishing Bianchini “well during his time on the south coast”.
His temporary switch to Pompey comes amid a period of considerable transition at Swansea City. Bianchini becomes the latest player to depart this summer, following in the footsteps of Mykola Kukharevych, Harry Darling, Nathan Tjoe-A-On, Ben Lloyd and Nathan Broome. Reports suggest the club could soon see further exits, as the reshaping of the squad gathers pace ahead of the new campaign.
Swansea now face an increased imperative to bolster their attacking options, especially with further uncertainty surrounding the futures of forwards Jerry Yates and Josh Ginnelly. The arrival of Bianchini at Portsmouth arguably amplifies these concerns, placing pressure on the club’s recruitment team to act swiftly in securing fresh talent up front.
To address this, it has emerged that Swansea have turned their attention to Wycombe Wanderers striker Richard Kone. Sources indicate that the Swans recently had a bid for the 22-year-old rejected by Wycombe, but the pursuit continues, with the club reportedly submitting an improved offer believed to be in the region of £4.5 million. This ambitious move underlines Swansea’s intent to reinforce their attacking line-up before the transfer window closes at the end of August.
Despite the outgoings, Swansea have already been active in the transfer market themselves. The South Wales side have welcomed several new faces to the Liberty Stadium including Zeidane Inoussa, Bobby Wales, Cameron Burgess, Ricardo Santos, and Ethan Galbraith. Further arrivals and departures are expected to take place as preparations intensify for the season opener against Middlesbrough.
In the meantime, Swansea City are set to continue their pre-season preparations by hosting French side Lorient in a friendly fixture at the Swansea.com Stadium this weekend. The match will offer an opportunity for supporters to see some of the new signings in action and gauge how the team is shaping up ahead of the competitive kick-off.
This dynamic summer has signalled a period of deliberate change for the Swans as they look to improve on last year’s performance. Ensuring squad balance and depth will be top priorities for manager Alan Sheehan and Sporting Director Rich Montague as they navigate the unpredictable Championship season that lies ahead.
With the transfer window still open for several weeks yet, fans can expect further twists and turns in Swansea’s squad development as the clock ticks down to the campaign’s start. The coming weeks look set to be crucial both for the club’s fortunes and for players like Bianchini hoping to reinvigorate their careers with regular minutes elsewhere.