Reading FC sign their first player in months
Fans give a collective virtual sigh of relief as a new player arrives at the club
Last updated 12th Aug 2021
Reading Football Club has signed a player after months of inactivity in teh transfer market caused by a football league transfer embargo.
Midfielder Tom Dele-Bashiru has put pen to paper on a season-long loan move from Watford.
The 21-year-old could make his Royals debut against Preston North End at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Saturday.
Manager Veljko Paunovic said:
“Tom is a very creative, clever, talented young player who adds much-needed strength to our midfield. Importantly as a loanee, he is a player who fits our identity – someone who gives his best, stays positive, overcomes adversity and will never give up. I am really looking forward to working with him and helping him integrate into the squad we are trying to build at Reading.”
Born in Manchester, Dele-Bashiru came through the ranks at City and featured alongside Jadon Sancho and Phil Foden in a 4-0 win against the Royals’ Under-18s in the FA Youth Cup in December 2016.
He went on to make his professional debut for the club in the Carabao Cup in December 2017, aged just 18.
Coming off the bench to replace Foden against Leicester City, Tom played alongside the likes of Yaya Toure, Bernardo Silva and llkay Gundogan in midfield to help Pep Guardiola’s eventual winners reach the semi-finals that evening.
Two years ago he signed a six-year deal with Watford and scored for the Premier League side on his full debut – a 3-3 draw with Tranmere Rovers in the FA Cup Third Round back in January 2020.
Last season, he replaced former Royals loanee Nathaniel Chalobah in a 1-0 win over rivals Luton Town to make his first Championship appearance.
However, his first start in the Championship ended in serious injury when, playing away against Reading in fact, his impressive start to the game was curtailed by an anterior cruciate ligament injury that would keep him sidelined for the duration of the Hornets’ promotion-winning 2020-21 campaign.
Chief Executive Dayong Pang said:
“I am delighted to welcome Tom to our club. I am confident we will play a big part in helping him quickly regain full match fitness following injury - and I am also confident that he will play a big part in helping us challenge for points throughout what is sure to be another gruelling Championship season.”
Fans reaction
Elder brother to Sheffield Wednesday’s Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Tom represented England at Under-16 level but has more recently played international football for Nigeria’s Under-20s and Under-23s - notably featuring in the Super Eagles’ U20 World Cup campaign in Poland in 2019.