Young Subway Socceroos defender Hayden Matthews is the latest Australian to call Portsmouth home after signing from Sydney FC, in a club record deal for the Sky Blues.
Matthews and Pompey have agreed to a four-and-a-half-year contract until the end of the 2028/29 season.
While the price has been undisclosed, the move is the third-highest transfer fee received for an Australian side in Isuzu UTE A-League history behind Nestory Irankunda (Bayern Munich) and Marco Tilio (Celtic FC).
The 20-year-old became Subway Socceroo cap no. 648 when he made his starting debut away to Bahrain late last year and now joins the growing contingent of Aussies who ply their trade at the EFL Championship club.
Matthews' ascension has been quite extraordinary in what was a whirlwind 2024.
After making his senior debut for Sydney in January 2024, a catalogue of impressive performances culminated in a surprise November call-up for crucial FIFA World Cup 2026™ Qualifiers against Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
He accumulated 36 appearances in all competitions with the Sky Blues and is now leaves as the most expensive sale for the club.
Speaking about securing his services, Blues head coach John Mousinho, told the club's official website: "He’s a really promising young centre-back and a player that we’ve been tracking for quite some time.
“There wasn’t the opportunity to bring him over here in the summer, so we’re delighted that he’s been able to join us now.
"Hayden is someone with a huge amount of potential, but he’s already played a lot of first team games in a short amount of time.
“He’s six-foot-five, but is also very mobile and doesn’t just rely on his height. There’s a real physicality there, while he’s calm and composed with the ball at his feet."
Fellow Aussies currently on the books of Pompey include Subway Socceroo striker Kusini Yengi, U-23 defender Jacob Farrell and the recently acquired Subway Young Socceroo and U-23 sharpshooter Thomas Waddingham, who penned a three-and-a-half-year contract yesterday.
Portsmouth, who occupy 21st spot on the table, host Millwall in the Championship on Wednesday at 6:45am (AEDT).
