John Mousinho believes new Portsmouth midfielder Odin Bailey is ready to make the biggest step of his career after joining the club on a free transfer this summer, with the head coach confident the 26-year-old can enjoy a breakthrough in the Championship.
Bailey became Pompey’s first signing of the transfer window after agreeing a three-year contract following the expiration of his deal at Stockport County. Despite making six substitute appearances for Birmingham City in the Championship during the 2019–20 campaign, he has never started a league match at that level. Mousinho now sees the move to Fratton Park as the perfect opportunity for the midfielder to finally establish himself in English football’s second tier.
The Portsmouth boss revealed that Bailey’s versatility was one of the major reasons behind the club’s decision to recruit him. While the midfielder spent much of last season operating in a deeper holding role for Stockport, Mousinho believes his greatest strengths lie further up the pitch. He views Bailey primarily as either a number eight or an attacking midfielder, praising his creativity, intelligence in possession and ability to influence matches in the final third.
Mousinho explained that Bailey has consistently impressed throughout his career and feels the player has earned the chance to test himself at a higher level. According to the Pompey manager, the midfielder was unfortunate not to achieve promotion with Stockport over the last two seasons despite delivering a series of outstanding performances. Portsmouth therefore saw an excellent opportunity to secure an experienced and talented player without paying a transfer fee.
The Blues head coach admitted that free transfers of Bailey’s quality are not always available, making the signing particularly appealing. He added that the club’s coaching staff are excited about helping Bailey continue his development and believe he possesses the attributes required to succeed in the Championship.
Mousinho also compared Bailey’s situation to that of winger Josh Murphy, who enjoyed a remarkable revival after joining Portsmouth on a free transfer in 2024. Murphy had rebuilt his confidence during Oxford United’s successful promotion campaign before flourishing at Fratton Park, producing an outstanding first Championship season that earned him numerous individual honours, including Players’ Player of the Season and Goal of the Season.
The manager pointed to Murphy’s progress as proof that Portsmouth can help players elevate their performances after arriving at the club. He stressed that improving players remains one of the club’s key objectives and believes Bailey is capable of following a similar path by taking his game to another level.
Although Murphy’s momentum was interrupted last season by injuries that limited him to just 16 appearances, the winger is expected to feature again during Portsmouth’s pre-season schedule as he works his way back to full fitness.
Bailey arrives at Fratton Park following an impressive campaign with Stockport County, where he featured in 57 matches across all competitions and scored six goals during the 2025–26 season. His performances were widely regarded as one of the bright spots in Stockport’s campaign despite the club suffering further disappointment in the League One play-offs.
The signing also addresses an important need within Portsmouth’s squad after the departure of Andre Dozzell, leaving Mousinho eager to strengthen his midfield options ahead of the new Championship season.
The Pompey boss concluded by saying Bailey fully deserves his opportunity at Championship level, arguing that had Stockport secured promotion themselves, the midfielder would almost certainly have remained with them and played an important role. Instead, Portsmouth have moved quickly to secure a player they believe is ready to prove himself on a much bigger stage, with Mousinho confident Bailey can become another successful example of the club’s ability to unlock a player’s full potential.
