(Picture: Action Images via Reuters)
Reading have made their first signing of the summer after agreeing a deal to bring attacking midfielder Pelle Clement to the club.
The 21-year-old Dutchman is a graduate of the fabled Ajax academy, and has joined last season’s beaten play-off finalists for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal.
Clement made his professional debut in 2015 for Jong Ajax, the Dutch giants’ second team, before scoring a brace on his debut for the first-team in a 6-1 win over Kozakken Boys in the KNVB Cup.
Speaking to the Royals‘ official website, boss Jaap Stam is clearly delighted with his first recruit ahead of the upcoming season, saying: “Pelle is a player who comes to us from Jong Ajax, having been involved in the first team squad over in Amsterdam last season.
“He will need to learn and adapt to the game over here of course, but he is a young, very promising player with a good personality.
“He is quick, technically good and has good stamina – and he is capable of playing in midfield, up front or in the wide or wing back positions. So I’m pleased to have him with us here in Reading.”
Reading’s Chief Executive Nigel Howe added: “We are excited to welcome Pelle to the club – a hungry young player from Holland with plenty of promise.
“I am delighted that we have secured our first signature of the summer as the hard work continues apace as we shape a squad and prepare a first team for the brand new challenge of 2017-18.”
