The EFL season is now in full swing, with Portsmouth suffering a disappointing start to their campaign after falling to a 3-1 defeat against QPR last Saturday.
Despite Terry Devlin giving Portsmouth an early advantage, QPR quickly turned the game around, with Ilias Chair scoring twice before Koki Saito added another goal to send the Hoops into halftime with a commanding lead.
Focus now shifts to Portsmouth’s trip to newly promoted Lincoln City this weekend, with both teams eager to bounce back from their opening-day defeats and secure their first points of the season.
As the new campaign gets underway, several former Portsmouth players remain without clubs, including ex-Pompey striker Jordy Hiwula.
The 31-year-old is currently searching for his next opportunity after leaving National League side Boston United at the end of last season. Hiwula enjoyed his most productive season in front of goal since 2019, scoring eight times in all competitions.
Despite helping Boston United finish 12th in the National League, Hiwula was allowed to depart when his one-year contract expired, leaving the experienced forward looking for a fresh challenge.
Former Pompey & Coventry City man to PFA in search for new club
Hiwula has now enlisted the support of the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) as he looks to secure his next club. The experienced striker has joined the union’s summer training camp, which provides out-of-contract players with an opportunity to stay fit while working towards finding a new team.
The 10-week programme, now entering its third year, is held at Champney’s Springs in Leicestershire. It gives out-of-contract players access to gym and spa facilities, strength and conditioning work, regular training sessions and weekly fixtures against EFL opposition.
This marks the second time Hiwula has participated in the camp, having also been involved in 2025 after spending a full year without a club.
The former Pompey striker will be joined by several other ex-Portsmouth players, including Tom McIntyre, who has returned to the programme after a trial spell with Blackpool, along with Anthony Scully, Omar Bogle, Andre Green and Arvin Appiah.
Hiwula is the latest former Portsmouth player to join the ex-Fratton Park contingent taking part in the pre-season programme. The camp has previously welcomed the likes of Tyler Walker, Ben Close, John Marquis, James Bolton, Lee Evans and Josh Oluwayemi.
The 31-year-old will now look to maintain his fitness and sharpness while waiting for the right opportunity to emerge. Following his departure from Boston United earlier this summer, Hiwula will be hoping the programme can help him attract interest from potential suitors as he looks to revive his career.
Jordy Hiwula’s Pompey stay and career after Fratton
Hiwula, a product of Manchester City’s academy, built up extensive experience across the English football pyramid before joining Portsmouth in October 2020. Prior to his move to Fratton Park, the striker had spells with Yeovil Town, Walsall, Huddersfield Town, Wigan Athletic, Bradford City, Fleetwood Town and Coventry City.
However, the forward found opportunities hard to come by on the south coast, making just nine League One appearances under Kenny Jackett and Danny Cowley without finding the net.
During his year with Portsmouth, Hiwula managed only three goals, all of which came in cup competitions. He was subsequently released as part of the club’s major summer rebuild in 2021.
His struggles continued after leaving Fratton Park, with spells at Doncaster Rovers, Ross County and Morecambe producing little improvement. Across three years, the former England youth international scored just twice in league competition.
After spending 13 months without a club, Hiwula finally secured a move to Boston United in August 2025. The striker went on to rediscover his scoring touch, enjoying his most productive campaign in front of goal for seven years before leaving the club in May.
