Portsmouth have allowed defender Josh Knight to leave Fratton Park on a season-long loan, with the 28-year-old joining League One side Reading for the 2026-27 campaign, according to a BBC Sport report published on 28 August.

Knight arrived at Portsmouth in the summer of 2025 following a move from German club Hannover 96, but his first season in the Championship with Pompey was severely disrupted. He managed 14 appearances before a back injury in November ruled him out for the bulk of the campaign, leaving the club with a decision to make over his immediate future.

With Knight fit again and understood to have been involved in Portsmouth's pre-season preparations, the club appear to have judged that regular minutes at a lower level will serve the player better than a stint as fringe cover in the second tier. The loan deal allows both parties to benefit: Knight gets consistent game time, while Portsmouth retain his registration and can recall him if circumstances change.

A defender with second-tier pedigree

For a defender heading into League One, Knight brings a substantial amount of Championship experience that will be hard to ignore. He made 141 appearances for Peterborough United across two separate spells, from 2018 to 2020 and again from 2021 to 2024, covering both the second tier and League One. He also featured 37 times for Wycombe Wanderers during the 2020-21 Championship season, giving him a thorough grounding in the demands of professional football at this level and below.

A product of the Leicester City academy, Knight has scored 16 goals in 248 senior career appearances, a return that underlines he is no stranger to contributing at set pieces from defensive positions.

Reading manager positive about the signing

Reading manager Leam Richardson was enthusiastic about the addition, telling the club's official website: "He's a good defender first and foremost, but he's also comfortable on the ball and gives us another real leader within the group. He knows this league inside out, he's had success in it before and he's coming to us fit and ready to go, having been involved with Portsmouth already this season."

Richardson's emphasis on leadership and ball-playing ability points to how the defender might be used: as an organiser at the heart of a back line rather than a purely physical stopper.

What this means for Portsmouth

From Portsmouth's perspective, the loan tidies up their squad picture heading into the autumn. With Knight's injury last season limiting his contribution, Pompey's coaching staff will have had limited opportunity to properly assess him in competitive conditions. Sending him out on loan keeps him sharp and match-fit, and the season-long nature of the arrangement suggests the club are content to revisit his role at Fratton Park next summer.

Portsmouth are likely to need their defensive options performing at full capacity across a challenging Championship campaign, and the ability to recall Knight if the situation demands it gives the club a degree of flexibility. For now, though, Knight's immediate future lies elsewhere, and his experience at this level and below makes him a credible option for Richardson's squad as they look to make an impression in League One.

Frequently asked

Why has Josh Knight left Portsmouth on loan?
Knight spent much of last season on the sidelines with a back injury, limiting him to 14 Championship appearances. Portsmouth have sent him to Reading on a season-long loan to give him regular game time and get him back to full match sharpness.
How long is Josh Knight's loan at Reading?
According to BBC Sport, the loan is for the full 2026-27 season, though Portsmouth retain his registration and could theoretically recall him if their own circumstances change.
What is Josh Knight's Championship experience?
Knight has extensive second-tier experience, having made over 140 appearances for Peterborough United across two spells and 37 appearances for Wycombe Wanderers in the Championship, in addition to his 14 games for Portsmouth last season.