Estonia international midfielder Rocco Robert Shein has officially completed a move to EFL Championship side Portsmouth, signing a three-year contract at Fratton Park. According to reports in the Norwegian media, the transfer fee is believed to be around €2.5 million.
The 22-year-old midfielder, who will celebrate his 23rd birthday tomorrow, spent the last year and a half with Norwegian top-flight club Fredrikstad. This season, he recorded two goals and three assists in 11 league appearances.
Fredrikstad signed Shein from Dutch club Dordrecht during the winter transfer window of 2025 for a reported fee of around €800,000. In total, he made 49 appearances for the Norwegian side, scoring four goals and providing 11 assists.
Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho welcomed the signing, believing the Estonian has the attributes to make an immediate impact.
“We’re delighted to continue our summer transfer activity with the signing of Rocco,” Mousinho said. “He will provide us with plenty of physicality in the centre of the pitch, but is also someone who is very comfortable on the ball.
“Rocco has already made a great deal of progress over the past few years and is still young, so we feel he can continue to improve with us.”
A product of Flora Tallinn’s academy, Shein began his professional career with the Estonian champions before joining Dutch side Utrecht, initially on loan before making the move permanent. He later transferred to Dordrecht in the summer of 2023 before earning his switch to Fredrikstad. At international level, Shein has won 25 caps for Estonia, scoring once.
Founded in 1898, Portsmouth – nicknamed “Pompey” – are one of only five clubs in English football history to have won league titles across all four professional divisions. The club, which last competed in the Premier League during the 2009-10 season, finished 18th in the Championship last season to retain their second-tier status.
Shein will not become the first Estonian to represent Portsmouth. Legendary goalkeeper Mart Poom made five appearances for the club in 1995 before later establishing himself in the Premier League with Derby County, where he went on to make more than 130 top-flight appearances.
Source: https://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/news/2026/july/13/shein-signs-for-pompey/
