Summer 2025 Transfer Ratings

[Snowflake Royal]

As we enter the season proper, seems a good point to summarise our transfer dealings and keep as a place holder for a review once the window closes and then again 10 - 20 games into the season, then end of season on how they're doing and who was a good signing etc.

I'll ignore contract renewals as that would start getting out of hand with the number we've had.

GK - Stevens - solid
Reserve goalkeeper, would be underwhelming as a replacement for Pereira, and possibly a bit of a luxury if Joel stays fit all season. But pretty good as cover, allowing the likes of Rowley and Norcott the chance to develop further, without just benchsitting or being thrown in at the deep end.

LB - Jacobs (loan) - right idea
Seems exactly what we all wanted at LB, an experienced player to come in. Poor showing v Pompey, but one game doesn’t mean a lot. Looks slow though.

CB - O'Connor - good
Experienced and quality CB at this level. Hard to ask for more from a signing at this stage. Question mark over his suitability to our play style. Not quick. Not sure how well he'll pair with Burns.

CB - Burns (loan) - good
Promising young CB with experience at a higher level. Not the quickest, seems decent on the ball. Question marks over how well he'll pair with O'Connor.

DM - Liam Fraser - good
Experienced midfield cover rated well at Crawley last season. Gives depth to the strongest part of the squad.

AM - Kyerewaa - solid
Young energetic forward with a knack for goals. We do already have inexperienced forwards though and probably a litle more underwhelming with Knibbs going, hard act to follow and someone more proven would have been nice. Looks a bit small.

FW - Lane - great
Proven player with a good record at this level. Age to improve, potential for resale value. In a position that desperately needed strengthening, brings goals and creativity to the side.

ST - O'Mahoney (loan) - solid
Strong young striker. Hold up play looks good. But lack of quality attacking players in preseason games has left him with little service or chances to show his finishing. Not enough without some reinforcement.

Could do with at least [1 more winger - now signed although a second wouldn’t hurt] and striker. But they're mostly the right sort of signings... just got to see if they work out.

[Tinpot Royal]

Agree with most of this. It would have have been a good transfer window (so far) apart from 2 things:
1. Couhig bigged it up at the start as being a great window with a top 4 budget.
2. Our attack is seriously light, we need at least 1 more striker and 2 more wingers

[Royal Monkey]

Not sure you can label any of these signings good/solid (which term is better?) until we’ve seen them play a few games in the league.
So far I’m very underwhelmed.
Totally understand new owners don’t wanna go crazy with money but having players choose Stevenage and Exeter (favourites for relegation) over us is very disappointing.

[Snowflake Royal]

Not sure you can label any of these signings good/solid (which term is better?) until we’ve seen them play a few games in the league.
So far I’m very underwhelmed.
Totally understand new owners don’t wanna go crazy with money but having players choose Stevenage and Exeter (favourites for relegation) over us is very disappointing.

Of course you can. It's obviously highly provisional and subject to change.

But it's clear that signing an Aluko for £7m when we need a stiker is a bad signing. And signing a Paudie O'Connor for free when we need CBs is a good signing.

What's underwhelming? Other than the lack of attacking signings? Or one pre-season friendly. I would argue, that needing a striker doesn’t making signing CBs, when we also needed them, bad or underwhelming.

Good very definitely better than solid (adequate better?).

[Hound]

It’s tough to rate - players that looked very solid (including Jacob) against spurs looked utterly inept against Portsmouth

I think O Mahony and Kyerewaa look fairly sharp and hoping for good things

[Snowflake Royal]

My thinking on rating a signing before the season starts, is:

Are they in a position we need strengthening?

Do they have the quality to perform well in the role we've signed them for?

Was the signing good value for money based on their likely performance?

Is there the potential for decent resale value?

How have they performed in pre-season?

[Sutekh]

So, have Reading had a spectacular transfer window or not? Or do we need to wait for the season to be over before deciding?

[WestYorksRoyal]

I'd say the squad is in good shape. Since IR's original post, we've brought in Williams who could well become signing of the season, Marriot, Doyle and Ritchie. I think we have a genuinely competitive L1 squad.

I would have liked a Cole/Cheek target man option and such a signing would have moved us from "competitive" to "good". But we need to look at the bigger picture; the first 12 months is about rebuilding and then we kick on. Would rather have missed out than spend £££ on the wrong option (Puscas anybody...?)

[Esteban]

It's been a fairly good window. Still a few decent options in the free agent market for a big target man, too.

It's unrealistic to think every transfer will work out, but still a loan space open for January.

6.5/10, but could still get better with free agents.

[Hound]

Couhig must regret saying spectacular because that’s just constantly thrown back at him now and pretty much short of a Birmingham style window anything would fall short

It’s solid enough window for me. Fine - some good free signings, Lane should be good. O Connor and Williams should be very strong for the div. Marriott - going to take some convincing me that was a good signing

Loans seems a bit hit and miss. Doyle has something but not sure him and Elliott will both ever play. MoM hasn’t fired and isn’t being used well. Burns good - but too many mistakes. Jacob quite similar in that respect but a bit worse

[Snowflake Royal]

Still very happy with the window. They won't all work, but there's a solid logic to the vast majority.

A few weaknesses here and there, but none of the new signings have done badly, MOM the closest, but I feel he's still got a little leeway yet for feeding on scraps to start and showing some improvement.

Would have liked slightly fewer players with a more standout striker coming in, but sometimes you're limited by what's available.

Yiadom is increasingly looking like a strange extension.

I think we have a highly competitive squad that's a little light on a focal point, but will grow together and should be comfortably top half. Certainly we have one of the strongest midfields on paper with Wing, Savage, Elliott, Doyle and Fraser.

[Linden Jones' Tash]

I'd say the squad is in good shape. Since IR's original post, we've brought in Williams who could well become signing of the season, Marriot, Doyle and Ritchie. I think we have a genuinely competitive L1 squad.

I would have liked a Cole/Cheek target man option and such a signing would have moved us from "competitive" to "good". But we need to look at the bigger picture; the first 12 months is about rebuilding and then we kick on. Would rather have missed out than spend £££ on the wrong option (Puscas anybody...?)

The stated objective by the co-CEO is to improve on last season’s 7th place finish, so this squad has to achieve that to be in line with the goals set out....

[Esteban]

I'd say the squad is in good shape. Since IR's original post, we've brought in Williams who could well become signing of the season, Marriot, Doyle and Ritchie. I think we have a genuinely competitive L1 squad.

I would have liked a Cole/Cheek target man option and such a signing would have moved us from "competitive" to "good". But we need to look at the bigger picture; the first 12 months is about rebuilding and then we kick on. Would rather have missed out than spend £££ on the wrong option (Puscas anybody...?)

The stated objective by the co-CEO is to improve on last season’s 7th place finish, so this squad has to achieve that to be in line with the goals set out....

That's still possible. Look at what was achieved last season in very trying circumstances. And in any case, no matter what JJ said would have ben thrown back at him. Would rather their stated aim is to try to improve on last season's finish. I think most people are pragmatic enough to settle for mid-table this season and push on next.

[West F]

I'd say the squad is in good shape. Since IR's original post, we've brought in Williams who could well become signing of the season, Marriot, Doyle and Ritchie. I think we have a genuinely competitive L1 squad.

I would have liked a Cole/Cheek target man option and such a signing would have moved us from "competitive" to "good". But we need to look at the bigger picture; the first 12 months is about rebuilding and then we kick on. Would rather have missed out than spend £££ on the wrong option (Puscas anybody...?)

The stated objective by the co-CEO is to improve on last season’s 7th place finish, so this squad has to achieve that to be in line with the goals set out....

What is a Co Chief anything? Who is, or who are the other chiefs?

[Sutekh]

Noel & Joe give their view on the transfer window

[WestYorksRoyal]

I'd say the squad is in good shape. Since IR's original post, we've brought in Williams who could well become signing of the season, Marriot, Doyle and Ritchie. I think we have a genuinely competitive L1 squad.

I would have liked a Cole/Cheek target man option and such a signing would have moved us from "competitive" to "good". But we need to look at the bigger picture; the first 12 months is about rebuilding and then we kick on. Would rather have missed out than spend £££ on the wrong option (Puscas anybody...?)

The stated objective by the co-CEO is to improve on last season’s 7th place finish, so this squad has to achieve that to be in line with the goals set out....

Fair - I don't expect us to achieve that being honest. But remember we can be active in January this year too. Stay in touch until then and see what we can do.

[Stranded]

The window has been above average - people are far too fixated on one word which they take out of context - wasn't the quote that the window had the potential to be spectacular not that it would be.

A bigger presence upfront would have made everyone stand up and of course, there are still options out there as free agents if the club feel there is value. Not advocating any of the below but experienced tall forwards such as:

Benik Afobe (32)
Britt Assombalanga (32)
Chuks Aneke (32)
Joe Piggott (31)

are out there and would likely be happy coming off the bench if needed. It looks likely that Ferguson will sign too (though if that does not happen, it is not a major issue)

In all other positions we have the potential to be strong - the squad need to bed in and find the right way of playing. We are looking harder to beat now. so the potential is there.

[Esteban]

The window has been above average - people are far too fixated on one word which they take out of context - wasn't the quote that the window had the potential to be spectacular not that it would be.

A bigger presence upfront would have made everyone stand up and of course, there are still options out there as free agents if the club feel there is value. Not advocating any of the below but experienced tall forwards such as:

Benik Afobe (32)
Britt Assombalanga (32)
Chuks Aneke (32)
Joe Piggott (31)

are out there and would likely be happy coming off the bench if needed. It looks likely that Ferguson will sign too (though if that does not happen, it is not a major issue)

In all other positions we have the potential to be strong - the squad need to bed in and find the right way of playing. We are looking harder to beat now. so the potential is there.

Agreed and I'm sure the club will be considering those players.

Had a quick count and, including the Unders, I think we've re-signed or brought in 35 players this summer. That's 35 sets of agents fees too. Must be a significant figure and a factor in what we've been able to spend.

Key now is to sort out new contracts for Elliott, Garcia and I think Savage, who are all OOC next summer.

[Stranded]

The window has been above average - people are far too fixated on one word which they take out of context - wasn't the quote that the window had the potential to be spectacular not that it would be.

A bigger presence upfront would have made everyone stand up and of course, there are still options out there as free agents if the club feel there is value. Not advocating any of the below but experienced tall forwards such as:

Benik Afobe (32)
Britt Assombalanga (32)
Chuks Aneke (32)
Joe Piggott (31)

are out there and would likely be happy coming off the bench if needed. It looks likely that Ferguson will sign too (though if that does not happen, it is not a major issue)

In all other positions we have the potential to be strong - the squad need to bed in and find the right way of playing. We are looking harder to beat now. so the potential is there.

Agreed and I'm sure the club will be considering those players.

Had a quick count and, including the Unders, I think we've re-signed or brought in 35 players this summer. That's 35 sets of agents fees too. Must be a significant figure and a factor in what we've been able to spend.

Key now is to sort out new contracts for Elliott, Garcia and I think Savage, who are all OOC next summer.

The first 2 are but Savage is until 2027.

[Extended-Phenotype]

Seems like we have replaced what we have lost while improving our financial balance, which is a good thing. We’ have added on top of that, improving our depth. I think we have made some solid signings: Lane, Williams, Doyle and Marriott are good catches, while Fraser, Jacob and Kyerewaa feel like the jigsaw pieces we needed. We have added much needed experience to a young squad but also nabbed some young potential, so it’s a decent mix. And we have bolstered our attacking threat. Hard to pick fault with it, really.

Okay, we didn’t live up to the throwaway quote and didn’t nail a marquee signing that would have got us all excited - while we signed two strikers it doesn’t feel like we have picked up that 6ft 20+ goal monster we were all hoping for, so there is an air of disappointment around the window compared to expectations. But I think we have put together a squad that can compete and hopefully begin to develop a new reputation on balanced books that will make Reading a club players will be more eager to be a part of.

Business done, now it’s time for the acid test. The only metric that matters in terms of how successful this window has been is table position. I hope people who have been arguing against the owners and the quality of the window can draw a line under it and give credit when credit is due, and not be nitpicking every shortcoming just for the told-you-so’s. Let’s do our job now, give the owners, manager and players some patience and positivity, and see how things play out.