Kiwi winger Luke Brooke-Smith has left the Wellington Phoenix for the English Championship, signing for Portsmouth FC for an undisclosed fee.
The 18-year-old, who has one cap for the All Whites, will move to the club in England's south on a four-year deal. The Championship is English football's second tier, a step below the Premier League.
Brooke-Smith called the move a "dream come true".
“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,” he said.
Portsmouth manager John Mousinho said: “We’re delighted to strengthen our squad further with the addition of Luke.
“He’s a quick, direct and aggressive winger, who is comfortable on both sides of the pitch and has a lot of experience of senior football for his age."
Brook-Smith made 33 A-League appearances for the Phoenix, joining the club as a 16-year-old. He scored one goal and assisted two across two seasons.
Phoenix head coach Chris Greenacre said he was "disappointed" at losing Brook-Smith but "understood" the reason behind it.
“I’m disappointed because I want to work with the best players and Luke’s one of the best prospects in New Zealand,” he said.
“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."
Brook-Smith is the latest addition to a growing contingent of Kiwis in the Championship, including World Cup goalscorer Elijah Just and midfielder Mark Stamenić at Swansea, defender Liberato Cacace at Wrexham and goalkeeper Max Crocombe at Millwall.
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