Portsmouth 2026-2027 Season Preview
The 2026-2027 campaign is already underway, with Portsmouth beginning their third consecutive season in the Championship. John Mousinho’s side entered the new campaign looking to build on a difficult 2025-2026 season in which they secured their second-tier status late in the campaign.
There have been significant changes to the squad during the summer, with Portsmouth adding players in several positions while also bringing through and developing younger talent. The early weeks of the season have already provided some encouraging signs, although there is plenty of football still to come.
Portsmouth 2025-2026 Season Recap
Portsmouth’s 2025-2026 Championship campaign was ultimately about survival. The Blues finished 18th with 55 points from 46 matches, recording 14 wins, 13 draws and 19 defeats. They scored 49 goals and conceded 64, finishing with a goal difference of -15.
The season included difficult spells, but Portsmouth produced a strong finish to secure their Championship status. One of the standout individual performers was Terry Devlin, who was named both Portsmouth’s Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year. He also won the club’s Goal of the Season award.
Adrian Segečić also finished the campaign strongly. His hat-trick in a 3-1 victory at Stoke took his league goal tally into double figures and underlined his importance to Portsmouth’s attacking options.
Colby Bishop remained an important part of the squad, while Regan Poole provided consistency in defence. Marlon Pack continued to offer experience and leadership in midfield. Rather than finishing comfortably in mid-table, however, Portsmouth spent much of the season battling to stay in the division, making the successful survival push particularly significant.
That experience provides the backdrop for the 2026-2027 campaign. Portsmouth now have the opportunity to turn survival into greater stability and compete further up the Championship table.
Who Is The Manager of Portsmouth?
John Mousinho remains Portsmouth’s head coach and continues to oversee the club as they enter their third season back in the Championship. He was appointed in January 2023 and has since guided Pompey from League One into the second tier and through two Championship campaigns.
Mousinho has generally favoured organised, possession-based football combined with an aggressive approach to pressing. His teams have also shown a willingness to use different midfield combinations and attacking options depending on the opposition.
The manager’s challenge this season is to improve Portsmouth’s consistency. Last season’s 18th-place finish showed that the margins in the Championship can be small, while the early results of the new campaign have already demonstrated both the attacking potential and defensive vulnerabilities within the squad.
The summer recruitment has given Mousinho further options, including additional competition in midfield, attack and defence. Young players have also been given opportunities, adding another dimension to squad selection.
Portsmouth Summer Transfer Activity
Portsmouth have made a number of changes to their squad during the summer. Midfielder Rocco Shein arrived from Norwegian club Fredrikstad on a permanent deal, while Odin Bailey and Eoin Kenny also joined during July. Goalkeeper Daniel Bielica was brought in from NAC Breda, and Marko Milovanović joined from Almería.
Luke Brooke-Smith also arrived from Wellington Phoenix, while Serbian forward Marezi joined Portsmouth during the summer. The club subsequently added Chelsea winger Ryan Kavuma-McQueen on a season-long loan. The 17-year-old has already made an impact, scoring in Portsmouth’s 3-1 win at Lincoln City.
Defensive depth was further strengthened by the season-long loan signing of Benjamin Arthur from Brentford. The 20-year-old centre-back spent the second half of the previous campaign with Celtic and has experience of first-team football in both England and Scotland.
There have also been departures and loan moves as Portsmouth have reshaped the squad. Toby Steward, for example, returned to Scotland on loan with St Johnstone, while Makenzie Kirk moved to Barnsley on loan.
The recruitment strategy therefore combines permanent additions with younger loan players, giving Mousinho a broader selection of profiles as Portsmouth attempt to improve on last season’s finish.
Who are Portsmouth’s Key Players?
Terry Devlin enters the season as one of Portsmouth’s most important players after an outstanding 2025-2026 campaign. He was recognised at the club’s end-of-season awards and established himself as a regular after initially struggling for a starting place during the opening months of last season.
Colby Bishop remains a key attacking option and provides experience at the top end of the pitch. His ability to lead the line and contribute goals makes him an important part of Mousinho’s plans.
Adrian Segečić is another player to watch closely. The Australian forward ended the previous campaign in excellent form, scoring a hat-trick against Stoke, and has continued that momentum into the new season by scoring at Lincoln.
Marlon Pack continues to provide experience in midfield, while Ebou Adams offers energy and physicality in the centre of the pitch. Adams was signed from Derby County in January 2026 and has already shown his attacking contribution by scoring Portsmouth’s third goal at Lincoln.
The emergence of younger players is another important storyline. Ryan Kavuma-McQueen has already scored his first Championship goal for the club, while the arrival of Benjamin Arthur gives Mousinho another option at centre-back.
What Are Portsmouth’s Season Expectations?
Expectations need to be measured against Portsmouth’s 18th-place finish last season. The immediate objective is to establish greater consistency and avoid another prolonged battle near the bottom of the Championship.
The picture is also slightly different this season because the Championship play-offs have been expanded from four teams to six. The change means teams finishing from third to sixth will compete in the play-offs for promotion, increasing the number of clubs with a route into the Premier League.
Portsmouth have made a number of additions to strengthen the squad, and the early victory at Lincoln provides some encouragement. However, two league matches are not enough to establish whether the team can sustain a challenge near the top of the division.
Strong performances from established players such as Bishop, Devlin and Pack, continued development from younger players and successful integration of the summer signings will all be important. Defensive improvement is also likely to be a major factor after Portsmouth conceded 64 league goals last season.
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