27-year-old shot-stopper Nicolas Schmid has arrived at Fratton Park on a 2-year deal.
Portsmouth have signed Schmid from Austrian Bundesliga outfit FC Blau-Weiß Linz for an undisclosed fee. The side are currently 5th in Austria's top-flight.
The club also have an option to exercise a 12-month extension to Schmid's contract in 2026, should they wish to explore keeping him on the South Coast for longer.
Schmid has represented Austria at youth level and turned professional with LASK in 2015 and moved to FC Blau-Weiß Linz in 2018, helping the side to a 10th place finish in the Bundesliga last season.
So far in 2024/25, the keeper has featured twice already in the Bundesliga for FC Blau-Weiß Linz.
Head coach John Mousinho told Express FM's Jake Smith: "I expect him to come in and challenge as I do for all players, I don't want any players coming in and not challenging for a starting spot at any level, there's maybe a couple of exceptions to that with real development players that we bring in and we earmark to go out on loan, Reuben Swann for example.
"Still, everybody has the opportunity to come in and impress in training or impress where they're out on loan."
"In terms of where we see Nicolas fitting in, it's one of those where he's got to come in and challenge for that number 1 spot, held by Will (Norris) at the moment, who's been brilliant for the last 12 months since he's been in the building, was excellent again at the weekend so it's going to be very very tough to shift from that.
"The more competition we have I think in all places, the better."
For more reaction to this signing, more Pompey news and a preview of Saturday's Championship meeting with Middlesbrough, be sure to tune in to The Football Hour this Friday (23rd of August) evening from 6pm.
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