Portsmouth eyeing up £0 transfer for ex-Man City player | OneFootball

Portsmouth are reportedly interested in signing Dutch winger Jayden Braaf on a free transfer

Portsmouth's 1-0 victory over Leicester City on Saturday has all but confirmed Pompey's place in the Championship for next season, whilst at the same time all but condemning the Foxes to relegation to League One.

Portsmouth have hit form at just the right time.

John Mousinho's side have recorded three wins on the trot, with victories away at Middlesbrough and at home to both Ipswich Town and Leicester, keeping a clean sheet in all three.

Pompey have epitomised what a team fighting for survival should look like, and with three games to go, they nearly have their noses over the line.

Mousinho will be keen to rebuild this summer and strengthen his squad in key areas to ensure they don't find themselves in a similar position this time next year, and have already been linked with an interesting move for a former Manchester City winger.

Portsmouth among several European clubs tracking former Manchester City winger and free agent Jayden Braaf

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano via X, Portsmouth are one of several European clubs reportedly interested in signing Dutch winger Jayden Braaf, who is available on a free transfer.

Braaf has been without a club for almost a year after his contract with Hellas Verona was terminated by mutual consent in September 2025, and was last playing in the Italian second tier with Salernitana.

Formerly in Manchester City's youth academy, Braaf never managed a senior appearance for the Citizens and left the club permanently in the summer of 2022 to join Borussia Dortmund on a free transfer, treading the same path as the likes of Jadon Sancho.

Unfortunately for the Dutchman, things didn't go to plan in Germany, and disappointing spells with Hellas Verona, Fortuna Sittard, and Salernitana have followed, with Braaf having made just 32 senior appearances across his career to date.

Now 23, Braaf is on the lookout for a new club heading into next campaign, with Portsmouth reportedly interested in taking a closer look at him.

Both ADO Den Haag and Spanish side Cadiz are both also reportedly interested in Braaf, as Pompey will face some European competition to secure his services.

Mousinho will be keen to get his teeth dug in to the summer window once survival is secured at Fratton Park, and Braaf could be one of the first arrivals through the doors on the South Coast.

John Mousinho must make upgrades in the summer window at Portsmouth

Having survived comfortably last time around, this season has been a bit more difficult for Portsmouth and Mousinho, who will be keen to ensure his side doesn't find themselves in a similar position next year.

Pompey were so solid at home during their first year back in the second tier, making Fratton Park a tough fortress to penetrate, though aside from their recent couple of wins at home, that hasn't been the case for much of this season.

This has meant that picking up more points on the road has been essential to their survival, and it now looks as though they will have just about enough to get over the line.

Plans for recruitment heading into the summer will likely be underway at Portsmouth, as with their Championship status all but secured for another year, they must be aiming high to really establish themselves as a formidable second-tier opponent.

Braaf could be the player to get their summer ball rolling, as Mousinho will be rubbing his hands at the thought of an impending rebuild on the South Coast.