Portsmouth FC have secured a big transfer win before the summer window has even opened | OneFootball

Portsmouth striker Colby Bishop has signed a new contract to keep him at Fratton Park until the summer of 2028.

It has been an excellent few weeks for Portsmouth in the Championship, and they now look on course to secure survival in their first year back in the division.

After winning the League One title last season, it was a tough start to life back in the Championship for Portsmouth as they failed to win any of their first nine league games.

However, Pompey have improved significantly since then, and they recorded their third consecutive win with a 2-1 victory over play-off hopefuls Queens Park Rangers at Fratton Park on Saturday.

Portsmouth currently sit 17th in the table, and while safety is still far from guaranteed, particularly given their poor away record, they are now nine points clear of the relegation zone.

Pompey have the opportunity to take another huge step towards survival when they travel to bottom side Luton Town this weekend, and to add to the current positive mood on the South Coast, there was further good news for supporters on Monday as star striker Colby Bishop signed a new long-term contract.

Portsmouth reach fresh Colby Bishop contract agreement

Bishop joined Portsmouth from Accrington Stanley for a fee of £500,000 in the summer of 2022, and while he did have a good goalscoring record during his time with the Lancashire outfit, few could have predicted the impact he would make at Fratton Park.

The 28-year-old scored 24 goals in 52 games during his first year with Pompey in the 2022-23 campaign, but the season ultimately ended in disappointment as the club finished eighth in League One, which meant they missed out on the play-off places.

Bishop's prolific form continued last season, and he scored 21 goals in 48 appearances to help his side to the third-tier title as Portsmouth secured a return to the Championship for the first time since 2012.

However, Bishop underwent open heart surgery in the summer after a potential risk was identified during cardiac screening in pre-season, and that forced him to miss the first few months of the campaign.

The striker returned earlier than expected at the start of November, and he has led Pompey's rise up the table in recent months, scoring five goals and providing two assists in 20 games since making his comeback.

Bishop's contract was due to expire at the end of the season, but he has now put pen to paper on a new deal to keep him at Fratton Park until the summer of 2028, and Mousinho admitted that he is "delighted" to see him commit his future to the club.

Securing Colby Bishop's future is a huge boost for Portsmouth

Given Bishop's strong connection with Portsmouth supporters, it always seemed likely that he would sign a new contract at the club, but Mousinho will be pleased to have tied him down before the summer transfer window.

Bishop played a crucial role in Pompey's title success in League One last term, but despite scoring fewer goals, the impact he has had on their Championship campaign this season has arguably been even greater.

Portsmouth had won just one of their first 14 games without Bishop, but after making his return as a second half substitute against Preston North End in early November, he scored his side's third goal from the penalty spot to seal a 3-1 victory, and that proved to be a turning point for Mousinho's men.

Since beating the Lilywhites, Pompey have won eight and drawn three of their last 19 matches, and while their away record has left a lot to be desired, with only one of those victories coming on the road, their form at Fratton Park has helped them to climb away from danger.

Bishop has been the focal point up front that Portsmouth had been missing in the early stages of the season, so it is no coincidence that their fortunes have improved since his return, and as Mousinho said, he brings much more to the team than simply being a goalscorer.

After top scorer Callum Lang was ruled out for the rest of the campaign with a torn hamstring, Pompey will need Bishop to step up even more over the coming months as they look to secure Championship survival, but regardless of the outcome of this season, supporters will be delighted that the striker is remaining on the South Coast for the long-term.