'Now it's time': Portsmouth boss details first-team plans for surprise summer signing

Pompey are gunning for a repeat of their Josh Murphy success with the latest free transfer recruit. John Mousinho has a plan for Odin Bailey who, at the age of 26, has never started a Championship match in his career. Although the central midfielder previously featured six times with Birmingham at the level, that was six-and-a-half years ago in the 2019-20 season. Now he’s back, this time in Pompey colours, having signed a three-year deal following his release from League One play-off final losers Stockport. And Mousinho views Bailey as a player who, like Murphy, is capable of flourishing when taking the ‘step up’ with the Blues. Pompey’s head coach told The News: ‘I probably see Odin as an eight or a 10. He played a fair bit as a six last year for Stockport as well, but we see him a lot further up the pitch, he has a lot of creativity in the final third. ‘He’s had an extremely good career up to this point. Now it’s time for him to take a step up to the next level, which is obviously up into the Championship. ‘Odin has been very unlucky over the last couple of seasons not to get promoted with Stockport off the back of some very, very good performances. This was a really good opportunity to bring him in this summer. ‘We thought we’d take a rare free transfer, it’s something we’ve been able to take advantage of, and I am really looking forward to seeing how he progresses at this level. ‘There’s maybe a couple of exceptions, but, with most players we bring in, we want to improve them, we want to make them better. Get access to trustworthy local news for just £5 - sign up for a digital subscription to The News ‘Murph is a prime example. When we brought him in he’d had a brilliant time, but we still wanted him to improve and he definitely did - and we want him to kick on again. The same would be for Odin. ‘He’s had a really good career to this point, but hasn't done that at the Championship yet, so it’s a good challenge for him.’ Murphy revitalised his career in the second half of the 2023-24 season with Oxford United, inspiring their promotion through the League One play-off final. After being snapped up on a free transfer by Pompey in June 2024, he subsequently blossomed returning to the Championship, winning 12 individual awards in the 2024-25 season, including Players’ Player of the Season and Goal of the Season. Last term was dogged by injury, frustratingly restricting the classy winger to 16 appearances, although he is expected to return to friendly action during this pre-season. Meanwhile, Bailey has joined Pompey off the back of an eye-catching campaign for Stockport, where he made 57 appearances and scored six goals in 2025-26. And, for Mousinho, he strengthens a midfield position short of options following the departure of Andre Dozzell. He added: ‘He strengthens the squad, there’s every chance in another scenario that Stockport are a Championship side themselves - and I’m sure they would have kept him on and I’m sure he would have had a good season with them. ‘They’ve had that play-off heartbreak over the past couple of seasons and we feel he’s done enough to play at this level.’ Your Next Pompey Read: Transfer report: Portsmouth to sign international attacking midfielder for £400,000 with 3-year deal agreed