Why John Mousinho backed Portsmouth's decision to hand new 3.5-year deal to key Fratton Park player
Pompey announced new deal for keeper Nicolas Schmid on Friday following his impressive time to date at Fratton Park
John Mousinho believes Nicolas Schmid’s Pompey contract extension is well deserved.
The Blues boss said the Austrian keeper’s arrival at Fratton Park from BW Linz in the summer of 2024 has proven to be ‘an excellent bit of business’ for the club.
As a result. he’s delighted the 28-year-old has agreed to extend his stay on the south coast until 2029.
Nicolas Schmid rewarded by Blues following Fratton Park impact
Pompey announced on Friday they had agreed a new three-and-a-half year deal with the giant stopper as he approached the final six months of the agreement he signed when arriving from Austria’s Bundesliga for an undisclosed fee.
The club had the option to extend Schmid’s then existing deal by another 12 months next June, but took the decision to go further than that well in advance in recognition of the keeper’s impact at PO4.
Since arriving from Linz, the keeper has established himself as the Blues’ No1, after displacing League One title-winner Will Norris in October 2024. Schmid played a key role in Pompey securing their Championship status for another year last season, registering eight clean sheets in 35 league appearances. Meanwhile, he’s only been beaten 10 times this season, despite Pompey’s position of 21st in the current Championshiup table.
A fourth shut-out in 11 appearances this season will be the order of the day when Mousinho & Co head to Derby County for their final league game before Christmas.
And what better way to prepare for that challenge than a confidence-boosting new deal that the head coach believes is just reward for the ongoing keeper’s influence on the team.
Mousinho happy with Schmid and goalkeeping department
Congratulating Schmid on his new contract arrangement, Mousinho said: ‘We’re absolutely delighted that Nico has committed his future to Pompey by signing a new contract.
‘He enjoyed a successful first season at the club and was a big part of the reason why we survived in the Championship last term.
‘Nico is an integral member of our squad and bringing him over from Austria last summer has proved to be an excellent bit of business.
‘We’re really happy with the goalkeeping unit we have at the club right now and how they all push each other daily to keep improving.’
Below Schmid in the goalkeeping pecking order are Josef Bursik, who deputised for the Austrian following the hand injury sustained in the south-coast derby draw at Southampton, Ben Killip and Jordan Archer.
Pompey contracts
Schmid is the sixth Pompey player to agree to a new Fratton Park deal over the past 12 months, with the Blues keen to tie down key players in their first-team set-up to longer contracts, show stability moving forward and protect their assets.
Conor Shaughnessy, Terry Devlin, Colby Bishop, Regan Poole and Josh Murphy have all penned fresh terms with the club.
At present, Callum Lang, Andre Dozzell, Zak Swanson, Conor Ogilvie, Marlon Pack, Jordan Archer and Reuben Swann remain in the final years of their existing deals.
The club have the option of an additional 12 months on the contracts of Lang and Dozzell.
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