“Reading are much, much better at developing youth nowadays”… is how I started this article last year. As for now? Not so much.
While it’s been an oft-discussed point that Leam Richardson doesn’t really seem to trust youth players (just look at a lack of game time recently for Emmanuel Osho, Luke Howard and others), the size of our Rookie of the Season 2025/26 nominees list makes the issue clear. This has not been a good season for youngsters breaking through into Reading’s first team.
So how does
our list work? Well, to come up with it, we use the same criteria each year (updating the first line though, naturally):
- Have been 22 years old or younger on August 1, 2025
- Have made fewer than five Reading starts before the start of the season
- Have made five Reading starts this season or a combined 10 sub appearances + starts
- Not be on loan at the club
The 2022/23 relegation campaign was a particularly dour year for youth development, with only three players making our shortlist (Kelvin Abrefa, winner Nesta Guinness-Walker and Amadou Mbengue). A youthwards shift in 2023/24 yielded a whopping 13-man shortlist (congratulations to Tyler Bindon), which dropped slightly to seven in 2024/25 (congratulations to Jayden Wareham).
As for 2025/26? We’re down to… two players.
Now, obviously the situation at the club is very different now to how it was in the previous two campaigns. Reading had to play youngsters due to an inability to bring in new signings, and that’s not been the case so much in the post-Dai Yongge era.
However, it’s also fair to say that giving a youth a chance at Reading hasn’t been a strong part of this season’s rebuild. Yes, some have headed out on loan to the lower leagues and it’s made sense to do so, but such a major drop-off in opportunities in the Royals’ first team is still disappointing and should be rectified next season.
Without any further ado, here are both of your candidates…
John Ryan
Appearances: 6
Average rating: 6.3/10
The young Irishman got five starts at left-back in the cup earlier this season: three in the Pizza McPizza Virtuous Vase Shield and two in the League Cup. He did well on those occasions, particularly against West Ham United’s under-21s and MK Dons (both at home), as a well-rounded full-back. His high average rating underlines his consistency in those matches.
Unfortunately, Ryan’s season was again curtailed by serious injury, which has denied him football since December. It was another sad blow for someone who’s had horrid luck on this front in recent years, and at this point it looks unlikely he’ll be retained beyond the summer when his contract expires. Whatever happens though, he’s a bright talent and is one to watch for the future.
Benn Ward
Appearances: 8
Average rating: 6.3/10
A January arrival from Accrington Stanley, Ward’s also had bad luck on the fitness front, ruled out for the rest of the season after a cynical opposition challenge at Burton Albion in mid-March. He looked a class act during his eight appearances though, showing real quality at centre-back and left-back.
Had he shown that form across a full season, he’d have been at player of the season level, for me. Maybe that’s a bit over the top, but either way, I’m really looking forward to seeing more of him in the first team in 2026/27.
Vote
In previous years we’ve had such an extensive shortlist that we’ve asked you to rank all the nominees. Given that it’s between just the two players this time, we’ve stripped it back to a straightforward poll, which you can find in this link right here.
