Portsmouth Women were crowned champions last season
Portsmouth Women were crowned champions last season
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Portsmouth Women sign experienced midfielder with Championship title to her name

Dan Godfrey
Dan Godfrey

Dan is a sports writer and broadcaster, who wrote for Breaking Media Limited's club sites including Pompey News between May 2024 and May 2025. Graduating from the University of Huddersfield in 2018 with First Class Honours in Sports Journalism, Dan has worked with several EFL clubs, as well as with BBC Radio, talkSPORT and TNT Sports. He previously resided in Sydney, Australia, where he continued his career as a freelancer in various sports. Dan was born and raised in Portsmouth, comes from a Pompey-supporting family, and was in attendance at both of the club's FA Cup finals in 2008 and 2010.

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Portsmouth Women have signed experienced midfielder Sophie Barker, the club's official website has confirmed.

Announced on 18 July on portsmouthfc.co.uk, Barker has become Jay Sadler's first summer signing after leaving Sheffield United in the summer.

The 33-year-old boasts an impressive CV, having won the Women's Championship title with Leicester City and featured in the WSL.

Sadler has described Barker as a "serial winner", becoming the first addition following 13 professional contracts awarded to existing members of the squad.

Barker in Portsmouth blue

As Portsmouth Women prepare for a packed pre-season schedule, the club are doing all the right things away from the pitch.

Many of the squad are now fully fledged professionals and Sadler is able to bring in full-time coaching staff - not to mention the club are able to make the required appointment at this level of a General Manager to oversee the entire women's team operations.

Barker represents a sign of where Pompey want to go and despite having most of her senior career behind her, brings vital experience to steady the ship and help establish the club in the second tier and beyond.

The midfielder's nous has seen her enjoy a stellar career, pulling on the shirt of the Blades, Leicester, Notts County and Doncaster Rovers Belles.

With the women's season not getting underway until several weeks after the men's, time is on Sadler and the club's side to continue to build a valiant squad for the test ahead.

In other Portsmouth news, BBC's Andy Moon names four players likely to leave the men's team this summer.

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