John Mousinho explains why Portsmouth have forked out €600k on another keeper
Keeper Daniel Bielica has ended weeks of speculation about his future by joining Pompey on a three-year deal from NAC Breda
John Mousinho welcomed Daniel Bielica to Fratton Park by insisting the keeper will make Pompey stronger.
The Blues boss said the experienced 27-year-old will improve competition in his goalkeeping department, which will stand the club in good stead over the course of the upcoming Championship season.
Polish-born Bielica has moved to PO4 on a three-year deal from Eerste Divisie side NAC Breda, after a fee, believed to be €600,000 was agreed with the Dutch side.
He represents Pompey’s fifth signing of the summer transfer window and takes the number of senior goalkeepers on the Blues’ books to four.
With Nicolas Schmid, Josef Bursik and Ben Killip the Fratton Park club’s goalkeeping options prior to Bielica’s arrival, it will be intriguing to see where he sits in the pecking order.
It will also be fascinating to see if Pompey feel the need to part company of any of their old guard, given it’s unlikely four keepers will be registered in their 25-man squad list that must be submitted to the EFL upon the conclusion of the summer transfer window.
With more than five weeks of the window left, there’s plenty of time for developments on that front.
In the meantime, Mousinho has been praising the acquisition of former Gornik Zabrze stopper Bielica, claiming he’ll be an excellent option for Pompey.
He said: ‘We are thrilled to add more competition in our goalkeeping ranks with the capture of Daniel.
‘He is a very experienced player with plenty of minutes at a high level of European football under his belt.
‘Daniel joins Pompey following a strong season on a personal level in the Netherlands and provides us with another excellent option between the sticks’
Bielica featured 33 times for NAC Breda last season, keeping six clean sheets. However, his presence wasn’t enough to keep his former side in the Eredivisie.
Last season Schmid, who was signed for €400,000 from BW Linz in 2024, continued to be Pompey’s No1, racking up 34 Championship appearances.
Bursik, who is currently injured, acted largely as the Austrian’s understudy as he featured 11 times in all competitions.
He moved to Fratton Park from Club Brugge last summer for an undisclose fee.
February 2005 arrival Killip was used five times over the course of the 2025-26 campaign.