'Too good for League One': Defender flourishing after Portsmouth exit - to Huddersfield's delight
The defender moved to Huddersfield in August after 16 appearances in two seasons at Fratton Park
An impressive Ibane Bowat is flourishing after finally securing the first-team opportunities he craved at Huddersfield.
That’s the verdict of Terriers sports writer Steve Chicken, who is convinced the classy defender is too good for League One.
Following 16 appearances in two Fratton Park seasons and entering the final 12 months of his contract, Pompey opted to cash in on the ex-Fulham man in August.
Bowat had also been eager for regular football, having found his Blues chances restricted upon his return from missing the entire 2024-25 season through a serious knee injury.
The 24-year-old has started all seven of Huddersfield’s league fixtures so far, featuring either at left-back or as a left-sided centre-half in a back three.
Boasting the second-best defensive record in League One at present, it represents an impressive introduction by Bowat.
‘He looks comfortable and is too good for League One’
Steven Chicken, from We Are Terriers, told The News: ‘Ibane wanted the minutes when he came here, he’s been quite up front about that - and he’s going to get them.
‘He looks comfortable and is too good for League One. For a player to have that kind of passing range is fairly unusual at this level.
‘I wouldn’t say he's been leading the charge for Player of the Season and is 9/10 every game, but I don’t think I’ve had him below seven. Huddersfield saw his signing as a bit of a coup and he has slotted in and looked the part.
‘Huddersfield’s defence was a problem last season, they conceded more goals than two of the relegated teams, so it’s fair to say they needed to strengthen in that position.
‘Ibane has come into a defence which is much improved. Although they lost 2-1 at Bromley on Saturday, he wasn’t at fault for any goals and previously they had conceded four in six league games.
‘When he first came in from Pompey, I don’t think he’d had too much of a pre-season. Huddersfield’s head coach, Martin Drury, said they were playing him for more minutes than they ideally would have done, out of necessity. He has done very well considering.
‘I’ve been impressed with Ibane, he’s been very reliable and very steady, which is obviously what you want from a centre-back. We’ve not seen him as a centre-half in a four, but on the left of a three and even at left-back.
‘Certainly when he joined, you always look to see what fans of the club he was leaving say on X - and a lot of Pompey supporters were saying they thought Ibane should be sent out on loan rather than leaving permanently.
‘And he has definitely impressed since coming to Huddersfield.’
Jack Whatmough injury set-backs
Also competing for a place in Huddersfield’s defence is former Pompey man Jack Whatmough, although he has suffered injury problems of late.
After joining from Preston in July 2025, the Gosport lad was restricted to just six appearances in the 2025-26 season and didn’t feature after September 2025.
He returned in the summer and had two outings this season, although, following a minor injury, he was back fit and on the bench for Saturday’s loss at Bromley, albeit unused.
Chicken added: ‘Jack missed most of last season, but when he’s played, he has been really, really good.
‘Murray Wallace won Player of the Season for 2025-26, yet Jack was keeping him out of the side at the start of the campaign on merit.
‘He was particularly fantastic against Sunderland in the Carabao Cup (August 2025), then he got injured and we didn't see him again after September.
‘Jack’s had a little niggling injury over the last couple of weeks which has kept him out of the team, but he was back in the squad on Saturday.’