News and Views
Who Are the New Royals?
26 August 2022
By Hob Nob Anyone?
So far, Reading FC has been busy in the transfer market this summer, bringing in eight new players. Major changes at the club were needed after last season saw the Royals narrowly escaping relegation, finishing 21st. Paul Ince was brought in as interim after Paunovic left by mutual consent due to a poor run of form. In May, Ince was confirmed as the permanent manager, and Mark Bowen also re-joined the club as Head of Football Operations. Together, they’ve been preparing the team for a new season in the Championship.
Already, Reading has gotten off to a good start this season, winning two of their three opening games. However, a 4-0 defeat to Rotherham left a bit of a sour taste. You can find all details of the new season online, including betting odds for the latest Championship games. Browsing from New Zealand? Kiwis should visit BonusFinder New Zealand to find the hottest offers.
Fans will be hoping that these new signings will bring a new lease of life to the club. Most deals are either loans or free transfers, as Reading need to fix the financial irregularities that cost them a six-point deduction last season. So, who are the new Royals?
Tom Ince
As the son of manager Paul Ince, fans might not be surprised to see Tom Ince joining on a free transfer from Stoke. Ince has played in the Championship for several seasons now and brings experience and depth to the right side of the attack. Considering the manager knows him well and he was a free transfer, Ince was a good option and will always work hard for the club.
Shane Long
Another free transfer, Shane Long played for Southampton in the Premier League last season and has bags of experience. He played for Reading FC back in 2011, spending three seasons with the Royals before joining West Brom. At 35 years old and with an extensive injury record, he might not get many games. However, he’s already scored once in two starts for Reading and played well for Bournemouth on loan in the Championship during the 2020-21 season.
Sam Hutchinson
Sam Hutchinson is a former Chelsea Academy graduate who now joins the Royals on a free transfer. Last season he played in League One for Sheffield Wednesday, making 28 appearances and helping them reach the playoffs. While he’s 33 years old, he can still be a strong presence in midfield for Reading.
Dean Bouzanis
Dean Bouzanis, an Australian goalkeeper, has signed a three-year deal with Reading. The 31-year-old played with Sutton United for the previous two seasons, assisting them in 2021 in gaining their first promotion to the EFL. He played in 53 games last year, which helped them finish seventh in League Two. Bouzanis is a much-needed goalkeeping option for Reading, who only had one senior shot-stopper remaining for the start of this season.
Nesta Guinness-Walker
22-year-old left-back Guinness-Walker joins Reading from Wimbledon on a free transfer. He made 35 appearances in League One last season and impressed manager Paul Ince during a spell training with the club over the summer. He’s now signed a one-year contract to keep him at Reading for the season and has a lot of potential.
Loan Deals
Aside from the permanent contracts that Reading FC has given to new players, several players have been brought in on loan this summer. These include Mamadou Loum, a 25-year-old defensive midfielder from Porto. There’s also Joe Lumley, a 27-year-old goalkeeper playing for Middlesborough and Tyrese Fornah. Fornah is a central midfielder who was playing for Nottingham Forest’s U21 team but could make senior appearances for Reading this season.
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