John Mousinho shares Portsmouth transfer budget reveal for summer
Portsmouth have ensured consolidation in the Championship and can now look to spread their wings even further.
The Blues have confirmed second-tier football will remain at Fratton Park in 2025-26, having earned enough points not to be caught by each and every side below them with two games to play.
John Mousinho has discussed the provisional plans for next season, which can now be fixed on Championship football rather than having to spread between the potential of both the current division and League One.
Mousinho makes budget pledge for summer transfer window
After a nerve-wracking few weeks, Portsmouth fans can now breathe a sigh of relief knowing their part in the survival battle is over.
Pompey face a trip to Sheffield Wednesday this Saturday (26 April) before hosting a Hull City side who are themselves not yet out of the woods (3 May).
One of the heaviest demands aimed at the Blues’ hierarchy by the fans has been to stretch the budget, and ensure a squad capable of a more consistent Championship season.
Mousinho has revealed the budget will increase upon allowance from the Eisners, which could enable Portsmouth to secure some more exciting recruits this time around.
The head coach – who in his first managerial role has both earned promotion and survival with Pompey – insisted the ambition must remain at Fratton Park.
“Last year, we had a League One plan and a Championship plan, but this year we have exciting plans in place,” he told BBC Radio Solent‘s Andy Moon (23 April).
“We’re not all of a sudden going to be the big spenders of the league, but we’re definitely going to add to the budget. There’s going to be more money available, and that’s great.
“We’ll still be in the same slot, but that’s not an issue. We have to be ambitious and build the squad as best as possible. Staying in the Championship has given us that platform.”
“The budget will increase, there will be more money to spend next season”#Pompey head coach John Mousinho reflects on the achievement of staying up and the ambitions for next season…
— Andrew Moon (@mrandrewmoon) April 23, 2025
Click to listen to him in full or search “Portsmouth” on BBC Soundshttps://t.co/ylHRIrNr4k
Portsmouth taking patient approach to restoring former glory
Portsmouth fans yearn for the days back when their side were lifting major trophies and competing in Europe, even sustaining themselves with top-half Premier League finishes.
But that era of the 2000s came at the heaviest of prices, almost costing the island city its club. So with that said, Blues fans are enjoying what they’ve now got, knowing how much worse it could be.
The Eisners may have faced accusations of a lack of investment into the squad, but their patient and pragmatic approach could serve Pompey well in the long run.
| Championship – longest-serving managers | Spell in charge |
| Michael Carrick (Middlesbrough) | 2 years, 180 days |
| John Mousinho (Portsmouth) | 2 years, 92 days |
| Daniel Farke (Leeds United) | 1 year, 292 days |
| Danny Rohl (Sheffield Wednesday) | 1 year, 191 days |
| Marti Cifuentes (QPR) | 1 year, 174 days |
Mousinho was one of the only bottom-half Championship managers not to have lost his job this year, something he admitted to Moon was a possibility following a succession of heavy away defeats midway through the campaign.
But Pompey have their long-term strategy, and fans are seeing it in action as they look to gradually go one better each year until they can make a rally for the big-time once again.