Credit: Imago / Pompey Supporters' Trust on YouTube

Dan Godfrey

Fri 28 March 2025 12:24, UK

Portsmouth have had an extremely busy year in the transfer market, and have had no choice following their promotion back to the Championship.

Rich Hughes has led the charge across the two windows within the past 12 months, helping John Mousinho construct a squad capable of competing in the second tier.

Portsmouth have dealt with listing the smallest wage bill in the division, as well as tighter pursestrings on transfers due to the Eisners’ prioritisation of investing in the Blues’ infrastructure, but are 17th in the table.

Pompey News rates every signing out of 10 – all 24 of them – made since returning to the Championship challenge.

Portsmouth have had a mixed bag in the market

Jordan Archer – 5

Archer was never seemingly brought in to be immediate first-choice, rather providing some experience to Mousinho’s goalkeeper selection pool. Has been fine on the rare occasion he has been called in.

Josh Murphy – 9

What a signing Murphy has turned out to be. The exact Championship experience Portsmouth desperately needed, and has more goal contributions (16) in the league this season than any other summer signing in the division. A huge reason the Blues moved out of the drop zone. Plus, he was free.

Jordan Williams – 6

When Williams is at his best, he has been an excellent acquisition. For a player of 25, his pedigree at this level is ideal and he was a low-risk transfer when he arrived for free from Barnsley. The only drawback has been his injuries, which have prevented him being a likely first-choice.

Reuben Swann – N/A

It would be unfair to give Swann a rating as he has been away on loan. Signed from AFC Sudbury in the non-league scene, the teenager has been sent out locally for more experience having joined the first-team squad on their Croatia camp in pre-season.

Jacob Farrell – 4

Farrell has only played the once, and put in a great performance with a clean sheet against promotion contenders Sheffield United at Fratton Park back in September. However, his injuries have robbed him of a season of progress in England, equally frustrating for Mousinho.

Elias Sorensen – 2

Just one that didn’t work out in the end. Sorensen was signed for a fee of around £300,000 when he arrived from Esbjerg, a Danish lower league side. Prolific as he may have been in his homeland, it with respect isn’t the Championship, and was sold in January to Valerenga in Norway. Did get Pompey’s first goal of the season, however, a nice memory against Leeds United.

Murphy, Ritchie, Potts and Dozzell superb for Portsmouth

Andre Dozzell – 8

Dozzell was another experienced Championship player, who still at 25, was an astute player to pick up as a free agent. Having started slowly with a struggle to reach the pace of the midfield battles each week, Dozzell eventually made huge strides and is now a key player in Mousinho’s starting XI.

Matt Ritchie – 9

Sometimes supporters yearn for former players to return simply out of nostalgia, but Ritchie has provided a massive impact on this Pompey team. The winger rejoined his boyhood club after eight years at Newcastle United, and has taken on the role of vice-captain with a gusto. Always a huge influence both on the pitch and in the dressing room.

Abdoulaye Kamara – 3

Since the turn of the year, Kamara – signed for over £1.5million from Borussia Dortmund last summer – has not been in the matchday squad in a single Championship game, only featuring in the FA Cup defeat at Wycombe in January. Hopefully remains one for the future, but injuries and simply not yet being up to speed of the standard have stunted him.

Nicolas Schmid – 8

Eyebrows were raised among Portsmouth fans when Schmid was signed for an undisclosed fee from promoted Austrian side Linz. With Will Norris still on the books at the time and Archer having recently arrived, the stopper was potentially deemed as a surplus arrival, but has taken to the league excellently as first-choice with some bold distribution and superb saves for Pompey.

Harvey Blair – 3

Like Kamara, another who has been considered not yet ready by Mousinho. A clearly gifted attacking recruit from Liverpool, Blair remains in waiting for his opportunity after several sporadic cameos.

Ibane Bowat – 3

Like Farrell, the low rating is absolutely no shade on Bowat himself. The injury situation that has ravaged Portsmouth this season is epitomised by the Scotsman, who was on the bench the day after signing from Fulham and shortly afterwards sustained an injury which ruled him out for the season.

Thomas Waddingham – 6

In terms of potential, Waddingham looks a very tidy find as part of Pompey’s levelled-up Australian network. One for the future, for sure, but he has looked promising when he has featured, including grabbing his debut goal against West Brom in January.

Hayden Matthews – 7

Despite picking up an injury which has now ruled him out until the summer, Matthews has already proven he will go a long way in the game. Still only 20, it was a risky move when Mousinho threw him into the starting XI shortly after moving from Sydney FC, but Matthews appears ready for the Championship.

Cohen Bramall – 5

We’ve so far seen a limited amount of Bramall, who has usually been brought on as a defensive and athletic boost towards the end of games. He performed fairly well in a start at Preston on 15 March, and could see his contract extended in the summer as a viable squad player.

Ben Killip – N/A

A peculiar signing. Was brought in for an undisclosed fee from Barnsley, but only until the end of the season. He had played over 20 games at Oakwell this season, but gave it up to become third-choice at Pompey. There must be more to it than football for the goalkeeper.

Alex Milosevic – N/A

Signed as a free agent to bolster the defensive options, and is now fit having had to work up his match sharpness. The towering Swedish centre-half, 33, debut against Blackburn this weekend (29 March).

Silvera and Sorensen suffer sorry spells, injuries affect others

Sammy Silvera – 2

Looked relatively encouraging when he was brought in on loan from Middlesbrough, but faded out in his performances. In his final game, his substitution was cheered by sections of the Pompey fans, and he was sent back to then move to Blackpool in League One.

Freddie Potts – 8

Has adapted to the Championship superbly since joining on loan from West Ham United, his boyhood club where he this week signed a new contract. While he may not become a permanent fixture at Fratton Park, Potts has endeared himself to the Blues fans as a key midfield operator, and will have a stellar career.

Mark O’Mahony – 5

It’s been bittersweet so far for the young Irish striker, who has struggled to sustain a consistent run of fitness. When he has featured, it’s clear that once fine-tuned, he could be a very adept Championship player, having chipped in with a few goals.

Rob Atkinson – 7

Atkinson was signed early in the January window on loan from Bristol City, the caveat being he had not played in two years due to serious injuries. However, he filled in excellently for a number of weeks, proving a very astute signing – before picking up another blow. Hopefully features again before the end of the campaign.

Isaac Hayden – 5

Portsmouth fans were excited at the prospect of bringing in an experienced player from the top two divisions, Hayden joining his long-time Newcastle teammate Ritchie. The Jamaican international has been fine, but is not always a starter.

Adil Aouchiche – 6

Aouchiche was desperate for regular football in the Championship, and found himself at Pompey on loan from Sunderland. Scored a terrific first goal for the club against Plymouth (12 March), though has at times been a little erratic. Clearly has talent and should keep receiving regular game time.

Kaide Gordon – 4

Gordon was signed on loan from Liverpool but has so far had to be patient for opportunities, often only coming on when the Blues are behind. Has not made a major impact as yet, but hope remains as he waits in the pecking order behind Murphy and Ritchie.