(Mis?)Reading between the lines he'll certainly be staying around Pompey for a bit, and they might even see him as going straight into their wider Championship squad??
Who knows, and plenty of time to debut in the English 2nd tier. No rush. 4 year deal and all that.
https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2026/07/28/done-deal-english-club-completes-signing-of-all-white-luke-brooke-smith/
Who knows, and plenty of time to debut in the English 2nd tier. No rush. 4 year deal and all that.
https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2026/07/28/done-deal-english-club-completes-signing-of-all-white-luke-brooke-smith/
English Championship club Portsmouth have confirmed their signing of Wellington Phoenix teenager Luke Brooke-Smith.
Though Portsmouth and the Phoenix say the transfer fee paid will not be disclosed, British media reports suggest the deal is worth about £400,000 (NZ$930,000).
Portsmouth manager John Mousinho said Brooke-Smith had been recruited after fending off interest from clubs in the United States, Italy and Spain.
“He’s a quick, direct and aggressive winger, who is comfortable on both sides of the pitch and has a lot of experience of senior football for his age,” Mousinho told Portsmouth’s official website.
“I’m looking forward to see him continue his impressive development here at Fratton Park over the next few years.
“He’s a quick, direct and aggressive winger, who is comfortable on both sides of the pitch and has a lot of experience of senior football for his age.”
Brooke-Smith is believed to be the first New Zealander to play for two-time FA Cup winners Portsmouth since All White Brian Turner, who made four appearances for the club in 1969-70, between spells at Chelsea and Brentford.
Phoenix head coach Chris Greenacre is sorry to see Brooke-Smith leave.
Brooke-Smith made 33 appearances for the Phoenix after joining them in August 2024, when he was 16, following his entry to senior football for Waikato clubs Cambridge and Hamilton Wanderers.
“I’m disappointed because I want to work with the best players and Luke’s one of the best prospects in New Zealand,” Greenacre said. “I think we could have built a team around him.
“Luke showed, particularly in the last game of the season against Macarthur, what he can produce in the A-League.
“As a result we were keen to extend his contract, but I can understand how a move to England is difficult to resist for a young player.
“I wish Luke all the best at Portsmouth and have told him if he needs anything to pick up the phone.
“His move again proves our club has the leading pathway in the country for nurturing and developing young and emerging talent.
“And it’s part of the Phoenix Way to help our players live out their dreams of playing abroad.”
Brooke-Smith says the move to Portsmouth is a “dream come true.”
“If someone told me when I first signed to the Phoenix two years ago that I’d be heading to the Championship after my second season, I would have bitten their hand off,” Brooke-Smith said.
“My dad’s side of the family are English and growing up I watched a lot of the Championship, so it’s going to be unreal to play in it.”
Brooke-Smith says it was hard breaking the news to Greenacre, but the offer from Portsmouth was too good an opportunity to turn down.
“If I could have stayed with Greeny, I would have loved to.
“He’s one of my favourite coaches. He was my coach at the under-20 World Cup, and we had a really good relationship.
“It was great being able to work with him week-in, week-out when he took over as interim head coach at the end of last season.
“I respect him so much, and I’m sure we’ll stay in touch as he knows the English game so well.”
He looks back on the past two seasons in Wellington with fondness.
“The Phoenix gave me an opportunity as a 16-year-old, trusted me and played me which is something I’ll forever be grateful for.”
Brooke-Smith became the youngest Phoenix player to appear in a men’s A-League match when he made his debut aged 16 years and 199 days.
His first goal for the club, when he was 16 years and 261 days, made him the youngest-ever Phoenix men’s goalscorer.
“I’ve supported the Phoenix for my whole life and went down to Auckland as a kid to watch them play at Eden Park, so it was incredible to be able to play for them.
“They put me on the professional football pathway, and I’m so thankful for them giving me the opportunity.
“I also want to thank the fans. They’ve been really welcoming and have supported me since I joined the club.
“One of my favourite things about playing for the Phoenix is the crowd have always cheered for me whenever I came on to the pitch or had the ball.”
The Wellington Phoenix still have 16 men’s players contracted for the 2026-27 Isuzu UTE A-League season and further squad announcements will be made in the coming weeks.
Brooke-Smith has one cap for the All Whites and represented New Zealand at the 2025 FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup.