Reading

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Reading have signed Northern Ireland striker Jamie Reid from Stevenage on a two-year deal, for an undisclosed fee.

The 32-year-old has spent the past five years at Broadhall Way, scoring 69 goals in 245 appearances.

He helped them win promotion from League Two in 2022-2023, and was named in the League One Team of the Season in 2023-2024.

His 14 goals last season helped Stevenage finish fifth and reach the League One play-offs.

Reid has also scored two goals in 16 caps for Northern Ireland.

Royals boss Leam Richardson told the club website, external: "Jamie is a proven goalscorer at this level and somebody who has consistently shown what he can bring to a team over a number of years.

"He works incredibly hard, he's intelligent with his movement and he knows where the goal is. He can lead the line, play off other forwards and gives us another really good option at the top end of the pitch."

Analysis

Tim Dellor, BBC Radio Berkshire

Fans have been crying out for the recruitment of a specialist striker. Jack Marriott's goalscoring record is superb, hitting the net 17 times last campaign, but his injury history is a concern.

Reid will give manager Leam Richardson more reliable goalscoring cover. Last season Kelvin Ehibhatiohman acted as Marriott's understudy, but he's departed during this window.

Richardson has made no secret of his desire to strengthen in central defence and up front. Reid and Jacob Brown have come in to score the goals. Josh Knight and Conor Masterson will fortify defence. They've both arrived at Reading in the last week.

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Reading manager Leam Richardson has said that the club still need to add to their current playing squad and admitted that they have missed out on some targets this summer.

The Royals have signed six new players this window with Conor Masterson, George Earthy, Josh Stokes, Jacob Brown, Udoka Godwin-Malife and Kyreece Lisbie arriving at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

There is now less than a week until the transfer window closes and Richardson is still hoping for some more additions in the final days.

"We've got some offensive players on the pitch now that carry goals and we need to add a little bit to that as well," he told BBC Radio Berkshire.

"We've obviously missed out on a few, there's some moving parts within that and I'll always want more because I want the best for this football club.

"We've got to evolve and move forward, our recruitment team have been working hard all summer alongside me to make the best decisions for this football club."

Reading are yet to get their first win in League One this season but have had success in the cups, beating Wycombe on penalties in the EFL trophy and coming out on top against Stevenage in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.

Despite still wanting some more bodies in before the close of the window, Richardson said that he feels the current group is in a good place.

"Our squad's quite together and the lads who didn't play on Saturday were selected (Tuesday) because I trust them all," Richardson added.

"It's important that we have a really tight nit group, our culture had to change when I came in and we're changing it slowly.

"We've got to have even more togetherness and support if we're going to compete at the top end of these leagues and you could see that after tonight's result with some really positive performances."

Reading are back in action next Wednesday when they take on Mansfield at the SCL Stadium.

Tim Dellor
BBC Radio Berkshire

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Good things come to those who wait.

39 days after signing Josh Stokes on loan the club has confirmed they have now signed 21-year-old attacking midfielder George Earthy from West Ham.

Reading fans have certainly had to wait for this signing, fingers crossed he's good.

Fans will be relieved the recruitment department is alive and kicking, some were starting to fear they'd gone on a very long summer vacation.

Earthy should add to Leam Richardson's attacking options.

There's clearly intent to play a more eye-catching and entertaining brand of football this season after last season's increasingly drab performances.

Earthy should contribute to that. He's young and impressed while at Bristol City on loan, by all accounts he's just the character Richardson likes.

What Richardson would also like is a couple of defenders and a striker.

The need to strengthen in both those areas isn't going away. The opening day defeat to Luton highlighted the lack of adequate cover and options off the bench.

Richardson will be pestering owner Rob Couhig, being as forceful as he dares trying to get what he knows he needs in the door.

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AFC Wimbledon have signed experienced defender Andy Yiadom on a five-month deal until January 2027.

The 34-year-old has made almost 400 appearances across the three divisions of the EFL, including playing under Edgar Davids at Barnet.

He played 177 games for the Bees, before a free transfer to Barnsley in 2016, captaining the Tykes during the 2017-18 season.

The Ghana international joined Reading in May 2018 and in eight years at the Berkshire club made 253 appearances and picked up the player of the season award in 2021-22.

He told the club website:, external "I'm grateful for the opportunity to play for Wimbledon and I'm ready to give my all for the team. I'm really excited to get involved in the games that we have coming up."

Manager Johnnie Jackson added: "Andy has been training with us for a number of weeks and has really impressed. He has vast experience of the level, brings character and leadership and much needed cover in defensive positions."

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Former Iceland striker Jon Dadi Bodvarsson has announced his retirement at the age of 34.

Bodvarsson scored four goals in 64 international appearances for Iceland and started the Euro 2016 match in which his country upset England 2-1 to advance to the quarter-finals, a result that led to Roy Hodgson's resignation.

The striker spent almost ten years in England, first at Wolves, and then Reading and Millwall, before a successful spell at Bolton between 2022 and 2024 where he scored 25 goals in 94 appearances.

He also played for Wrexham and Burton Albion before heading home to Iceland to return to his first club Selfoss.

Bodvarsson said in a statement on social media: "I want to thank all my managers, coaches, players and staff members that I've been grateful enough to have met and worked with. It was great sharing the highs and lows of football with you."

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