Portsmouth complete 11th transfer of summer as goalkeeper's arrival is confirmed

The 27-year-old goalkeeper has moved to Fratton Park for an undisclosed fee after an agreement was struck with Austria Bundesliga side BW Linz.

The stopper has signed a two-year deal with the Blues, who have the option of an additional 12 months, and is sporting director Rich Hughes’ 11th bit of business sealed during the current transfer window.

Schmid is Pompey’s second signing in the goalkeeping department, following the arrival of former Millwall and QPR keeper Jordan Archer in July. Confirmation of his move will provide further competition to first-choice goalkeeper Will Norris, who has started both of the Blues’ outings in the Championship to date.

Speaking to the Pompey website, Schmid’s new head coach John Mousinho said: “We’ve added an experienced keeper who’s probably at the peak of his career right now.

“He comes having played at the top level of Austrian football and so we’re delighted to have him in the building. Nicolas is an excellent shot-stopper and has a good range of kicking. He adds to what’s already a really strong goalkeeping unit.

He’s joins less than 24 hours after Pompey announced the signing of midfielder Abdoulaye Kamara from Borussia Dortmund and just days after Mousinho confirmed to the Blues fans that the club were ‘far from done’ in the transfer window.

As reported by BBC Solent, the Blues head coach said: “We're far from done in the transfer window. It's quite a different landscape this time of the season and we are looking to add a few and looking to make sure by the back end of August, the squad is stronger than it is now." Schmid’s arrival comes well before next Friday’s signing deadline to make him eligible for Saturday’s trip to Middlesbrough where the Blues squad will continue to hunt for their first win in the Championship after securing draws against both Leeds United and Luton Town.