Portsmouth sign Australian defender Jacob Farrell

Portsmouth have announced the signing of 21-year-old defender Jacob Farrell from Central Coast Mariners. Farrell, who has represented Australia at youth level, has agreed to a four-year contract with the Blues.

Portsmouth manager John Mousinho expressed his excitement about the new addition, highlighting Farrell's potential and recent performances.

"Jacob is a fantastic young prospect who joins us on the back of a great season with Central Coast Mariners. Despite his age, he’s already played a lot of games in his career," said Mousinho.

Mousinho also praised Farrell's athleticism and defensive solidity.

"He’s an athletic left-back who’s also extremely solid defensively and he brings so much potential. We’re delighted to have him on board," he added.

Farrell began his career with the Mariners' academy and made his senior debut at 18 in a cup victory over Blacktown City. His A-League debut came shortly after, where he scored the decisive goal against Newcastle Jets.

Farrell has been important in the Mariners' success over the past two seasons, helping the team secure back-to-back titles and continental silverware with a win in the AFC Cup final.

His performances earned him a place in the 2023/24 A-League Team of the Year, with a record of seven goals in 90 appearances for the Mariners.