English Championship club Portsmouth FC have completed the signing of 18-year-old winger Luke Brooke-Smith from New Zealand side Wellington Phoenix.
The four-year contract was secured for an undisclosed fee, and the player was immediately placed into the starting lineup for the pre-season friendly against SV Darmstadt on August 1, 2026.
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Brooke-Smith joined fellow new arrival Rocco Shein in the starting XI for Pompey's final warm-up match in Germany.
The squad also included £3 million newcomer Marko Milovanovic on the bench, alongside Daniel Bielica and trialist Arvin Appiah.
Ibane Bowat was left out despite being fit, while Josh Murphy stayed in England to recover from a groin injury.
The Kiwi international spent two seasons with the Wellington Phoenix, having joined as a 16-year-old.
During his time in the A-League, he recorded one goal and two assists in 33 appearances before making the move to English football's second tier.
"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, describing the transfer as a dream come true.
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Brooke-Smith becomes the latest New Zealand player to feature in the Championship, joining the likes of Elijah Just and Mark Stamenić at Swansea, Liberato Cacace at Wrexham, and goalkeeper Max Crocombe at Millwall.
Portsmouth manager John Mousinho expressed his delight at the addition, saying: "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."
