Swans Loanee Bianchini Heads to Portsmouth: A Chance for Growth

As a loyal Jack, it’s always a mixed bag of emotions when one of our players heads out on loan. On the one hand, you want to see them succeed and develop; on the other, you hope they’re not too successful against us! So, it is with a feeling of cautious optimism that I hear the news of Florian Bianchini joining Portsmouth for the 2025-2026 season.

The announcement from the club came through late on Thursday evening, confirming that our French forward will be spending the entire upcoming Championship campaign at Fratton Park. It’s a move that, from a Swansea perspective, makes a lot of sense. Bianchini arrived in SA1 last summer from SC Bastia, signing a four-year deal, and there was a real buzz around his arrival. We’d seen the clips, read the scouting reports – a quick, dynamic forward, comfortable on both feet, with an eye for goal. Luke Williams, at the time, spoke highly of his flair and his ability to beat players, suggesting he’d be a key part of the exciting, wing-play identity he wanted to build.

However, the reality of the Championship proved a tougher nut to crack for Florian. In his first season with us, he made 36 appearances in the Championship, but only 8 of those were starts. He managed to bag three goals, finding the net against Oxford United, Leeds United, and Sheffield United. While those moments showed glimpses of his undoubted talent – that burst of acceleration, the ability to find space – they were often flashes rather than consistent performances. He also featured in one FA Cup and one EFL Cup tie, scoring once in the latter.

Overall, he played 38 games for us in total, scoring 3 goals. When you look at his stats, he accumulated around 1,083 minutes in the Championship. It’s not a huge amount for a full season, and it suggests that while he was often involved, he wasn’t consistently nailing down a starting spot. There were times when you could see his frustration, a young player eager to make an impact but perhaps struggling with the physicality and relentless pace of the English second tier. It’s a common story for foreign players making the leap to the Championship, and it takes time to adapt.

Under Alan Sheehan, it seems game-time might have become even more of a challenge for Florian. A loan move, therefore, feels like the right decision for all parties involved. For Bianchini, it offers a fresh start and, crucially, the promise of more regular football. Portsmouth, as newly promoted Championship rivals, will be looking to solidify their place in the division, and a pacy, direct attacker like Florian could be a valuable asset for them. He’ll be playing in a different system, with different teammates, and that exposure can only aid his development.

From our side, it’s a chance for him to gain valuable experience without the immediate pressure of being a key starter at the Swans. He’s still only 24 years old (he turned 24 in June), and with his contract running until the summer of 2028, there’s plenty of time for him to blossom into the player we all hoped he would be when he arrived.

So, while it’s always a little bittersweet to see a player leave, even temporarily, this loan to Portsmouth feels like a sensible and strategic move. Here’s hoping Florian Bianchini can find his feet, get a consistent run of games, and return to South Wales next summer a more complete and confident player, ready to make a significant impact in a white shirt. Good luck, Florian! But not too much!