Luke Brooke-Smith has made the move to England, signing with Championship club Portsmouth after his tenure with the Wellington Phoenix. The Phoenix confirmed that they accepted an undisclosed fee for the 18-year-old, who joined the A-League side two years ago.

Record-Breaking Career at Wellington Phoenix

Brooke-Smith holds the distinction of being the youngest player in Wellington Phoenix history, making his debut at just 16 years and 199 days old. He later became the club's youngest goalscorer and accumulated 33 league appearances over the past two seasons. Coach Chris Greenacre expressed disappointment at losing such a promising talent, stating, “Luke’s one of the best prospects in New Zealand. I think we could have built a team around him.” He highlighted Brooke-Smith's performance in the last game of the season against Macarthur as a testament to his potential.

Excitement for the New Challenge

Brooke-Smith is eager to embark on this new chapter with Portsmouth, signing a four-year deal. He reflected on his journey, saying, “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.” With family ties to England and a long-standing admiration for the Championship, he expressed enthusiasm about playing in the league.

While grateful for his time at Wellington, Brooke-Smith thanked the fans for their unwavering support, recalling his childhood experiences of watching the team play. He noted, “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.” Portsmouth manager John Mousinho also praised Brooke-Smith, describing him as a “quick, direct and aggressive winger” with valuable experience for his age. Mousinho looks forward to seeing Brooke-Smith's continued development at Fratton Park.