Ex-Fulham man's Portsmouth career at crossroads as Blues seek summer exits
The former Fulham man has made 18 appearances in two seasons at Fratton Park
With priceless winners against two relegation rivals, it can be argued the fringe performer’s contribution has been minor, yet significant.
Nonetheless, with just 18 appearances in two seasons, Ibane Bowat represents the most likely member of Pompey’s congested centre-half position to depart this summer.
Certainly the 23-year-old’s Fratton future remains uncertain, irrespective of an encouraging 2025-26 campaign after a 14-month wait for his league debut.
While goals against Blackburn and Leicester City proved pivotal to John Mousinho’s team’s Championship survival, on a personal level it was, crucially, a season free from injury for the ex-Fulham man.
Ruled out of 2024-25 season
Just 10 days after arriving from the Premier League in August 2024, Bowat suffered a patellar tendon injury to his knee during training, cruelly ruling him out of 2024-25 without having kicked a ball for his new club.
By the time he was finally granted his Championship bow at Birmingham in November 2025, he was now competing with Conor Shaughnessy, Regan Poole, Hayden Matthews and Josh Knight for the centre-half spots.
With Madiodio Dia’s subsequent arrival in January, that leaves Mousinho with six contracted centre-halves for next season - of which Shaughnessy and Poole remain comfortably his first choice.
What’s more, the Blues have this summer been linked with Dundee’s Luke Graham and Elfsborg’s Ibrahim Buhari, suggesting they may well add to their most populated playing position.
Regardless of potential further squad strengthening, Bowat, who has 12 months left on his three-year deal, remains the most likely candidate to make way.
‘There are a lot of centre-halves here’
Certainly he may favour a fresh challenge himself after starting one of Pompey’s last 19 matches - the final game against Birmingham when Mousinho was rotating his squad.
‘For my future, these next three games are vital. Obviously I love it here at Pompey, the game time has been a bit limited at times, but I’m just pleased to be able to play in front of these fans, they are really amazing.
‘I’m really happy playing here, I hope my future at Pompey can carry on.’
Crowbarred into left-back on occasions on account of being naturally left footed, Bowat was suddenly regarded as a versatile option for the Blues.
In truth, although he had featured in the role at times for Scotland Under-21s and Fulham Under-21s, it represented the first season he has operated there in senior football.
Tellingly, when partnering Matthews at centre-half in the final-day 1-1 draw with Birmingham, Bowat produced a composed showing, with goalscorer Adrian Segecic narrowly beating him to man-of-the-match honours.
On the flipside, he found himself starting because Dia was unavailable for family reasons, Shaughnessy and Poole had been rotated to the bench, and Knight had still to return from his back issue.
That reflects the size of the task facing him to break into Pompey’s centre-half positions on a consistent first-team basis.
Six contracted centre-halves for two positions
It’s a selection scenario which isn’t going to ease in 2026-27, particularly should Shaughnessy finally put an end to his two-year injury woes and especially if Dia continues to develop and find his feet in the English game.
Turning 24 in September, Bowat - and Pompey - may decide a departure is necessary, either on loan for the duration of his contract or a permanent arrangement, potentially for a fee.
It represents the most realistic outcome for a player with eight league starts in two seasons at Fratton Park, yet those two goals were crucial in the Blues’ ongoing Championship existence.