Luke Brooke-Smith has finalised a move to the English Football League Championship.
The Wellington Phoenix have accepted an undisclosed transfer fee from Portsmouth FC for the exciting young forward to join the two-time FA Cup champions.
Brooke-Smith has made 33 A-League appearances for the Phoenix over the past two seasons since he joined the club as a 16-year-old in 2024.
He is the Nix’s youngest ever player, having made his A-League debut at the age of 16 years and 199 days, and he became the men’s youngest goalscorer two months later when he found the back of the net against Auckland FC.
Phoenix head coach Chris Greenacre has mixed feelings about Brooke-Smith’s departure.
“I’m disappointed because I want to work with the best players and Luke’s one of the best prospects in New Zealand,” Greenacre said. “I think we could have built a team around him.
“Luke showed, particularly in the last game of the season against Macarthur, what he can produce in the A-League.
“As a result we were keen to extend his contract, but I can understand how a move to England is difficult to resist for a young player.
“I wish Luke all the best at Portsmouth and have told him if he needs anything to pick up the phone.
“His move again proves our club has the leading pathway in the country for nurturing and developing young and emerging talent.
“And it’s part of the Phoenix Way to help our players live out their dreams of playing abroad.”
Signing with Portsmouth is a “dream come true” for Luke Brooke-Smith.
“If someone told me when I first signed to the Phoenix two years ago that I’d be heading to the Championship after my second season I would have bitten their hand off,” Brooke-Smith said.
“My dad’s side of the family are English and growing up I watched a lot of the Championship, so it’s going to be unreal to play in it.”
Brooke-Smith says it was hard breaking the news to Greenacre, but the offer from Portsmouth was too good an opportunity to turn down.
“If I could have stayed with Greeny, I would have loved to.
“He’s one of my favourite coaches. He was my coach at the under-20 World Cup and we had a really good relationship.
“It was great being able to work with him week-in, week-out when he took over as interim head coach at the end of last season.
“I respect him so much and I’m sure we’ll stay in touch as he knows the English game so well.”
He looks back on the past two seasons in Wellington with fondness.
“The Phoenix gave me an opportunity as a 16-year-old, trusted me and played me which is something I’ll forever be grateful for.
“I’ve supported the Phoenix for my whole life and went down to Auckland as a kid to watch them play at Eden Park so it was incredible to be able to play for them.
“They put me on the professional football pathway and I’m so thankful for them giving me the opportunity.
“I also want to thank the fans. They’ve been really welcoming and have supported me since I joined the club.
“One of my favourite things about playing for the Phoenix is the crowd have always cheered for me whenever I came on to the pitch or had the ball.”
The Wellington Phoenix still have 16 men’s players contracted for the 2026-27 Isuzu UTE A-League season and further squad announcements will be made in the coming weeks.
