There was time for one more signing in the winter window after all. Reading have loaned in Kadan Young, a 20-year-old winger, from Aston Villa until the end of the season.
His arrival came about very, very late
in the day. Reading fans had actually spent most of Deadline Day poring over the possibility of Kyreece Lisbie being bought from Colchester United, but that deal reportedly fell apart in the late afternoon. However, a signing was teased right as the window closed, and it turned out to be Young.
You’d presume therefore that Young was a back-up option to Lisbie. That can be taken either way: on the one hand, it’s disappointing Reading couldn’t get their main target, but on the other, it’s reassuring that we were prepared enough to bring in someone else at short notice.
And Young is certainly a talent in his own right. Though he’s played just three times for parent club Aston Villa, one of those appearances came last week in the Europa League – and included an assist.
He’s also picked up experience on loan, getting a handful of games at Belgian side Royal Antwerp.
It was important, albeit not crucial, for Reading to get in another wide player before the window closed. Injuries to Daniel Kyerewaa and Randell Williams have left the Royals short on pace and natural fits for the right-wing/right-wing-back role in Leam Richardson’s system, so hopefully Young can slot in well there.
Young is the fifth signing of what has, overall, been a very good window for Reading. The others to arrive are Haydon Roberts, Benn Ward (both bought outright), Ryan Nyambe and Will Keane (loanees). That’s a nice mix of short-term boost and long-term potential, and the full-backs in particular have already made their mark on the first team.
The Royals are now up to six loanees overall, including Mark O’Mahony, who hasn’t been recalled by Brighton & Hove Albion, despite being well out of contention at Reading. That’ll mean one loanee being omitted from the matchday squad for each game – possibly also Finley Burns in some cases, with Reading now pretty well stocked at centre-back.
At academy level, the Royals also confirmed the permanent addition of Scofield Lonmeni-Dekam from Liverpool, though he’d been playing for Reading’s under-18s for a short while prior to that. And in addition to a number of loan exits for young players, the only major outgoing was the sale of Andre Garcia.
