First Summer Signing Confirmed As Knibbs Joins

By Hob Nob Anyone?

Things are starting to look up at Reading FC after the club confirmed the first signing of the summer transfer window. Forward Harvey Knibbs has today signed a three year contract with the Royals to keep him at the club until the summer of 2026. Knibbs was known to be training with the club and has been expected to sign for a few weeks, and now his transfer has been confirmed shortly after the ELF removed Reading from their embargo reporting. There is no doubt it has been a good week for the club with the final of three charges removed by the Football League after the club settled their tax debts. That followed confirmation that Reading's Academy was back to Level One status.

Reading are now expected to be allowed to pay transfer fees again, but Knibbs arrives on a free transfer as he is out of contract this summer. Twenty four year old Knibbs has spent four seasons at Cambridge United - two in League Two and the following two in League One - after playing at Aston Villa during his youth career. Last season Knibbs made 47 appearances in all competitions and scored five goals.

From the Discussion

HE Hendo 29 Jun 2023 · 10:12am

From usually reliable Pete O'Rourke
YO YorkshireRoyal99 29 Jun 2023 · 10:18am

24 years old so not a kid anymore and should potentially be coming into his best years. Not a bad record at a troubled Cambridge from last season and I think one or two that have seen Cambridge on here spoke fairly highly of him as well. Hopefully with some better players around him we might be able to see a bit more output goals/assists wise but I'd trust the club with this judgement anyway and I'm pretty pleased with this, on paper at least anyway. Not seen much of him but seems to come with some good ratings from others as well. A positive amongst the chaos by the sounds of it.
OS On Strings 29 Jun 2023 · 10:19am

Cambridge rate the lad highly. Sounds promising.
BR Brogue 29 Jun 2023 · 10:21am

24, free, lower league experience, ok let’s see what he can do. The only question I would have is, is he any better than Clarke or Ehib? And are signings like this blocking academy products coming through? Either way he’s free and will be on small wages so worth a punt I suppose.
HO Hound 29 Jun 2023 · 10:22am

Looks hopeful. Was he the chap someone asked Ian about, a winger I think who was a bit lightweight? Left a nice message and video to say goodbye to cufc I see. Seems a good chap
ST Stranded 29 Jun 2023 · 10:30am

Goal or Assist every 286 minutes at L1 level and at 24 should still improve. If this comes to pass, exactly the kind of signing we should be looking at and positive signs that we are able to attract players.
ST Stranded 29 Jun 2023 · 10:32am

Also looking at Transfermarkt - he doesn't seem to be an out and out striker, more of a #10 who can play up front.
RJ Royal_jimmy 29 Jun 2023 · 12:40pm

Him and Sam Smith as a double signing would be good
SR Snowflake Royal 29 Jun 2023 · 12:41pm

Played as a winger, not a striker when I saw him. Looked light weight but tidy. Got stick for lack of effort from the home fans. Much like the whole Cambridge side there was some skill there, but not much backbone or end product. Although his record belies that performance on end product at least. If you asked me Azeez or Camara or Knibbs, I wouldn't chose the latter off the one game I saw. Right kind of signing, but don't expect too much given he was fighting L1 relegation last season. I'll ask around too.
SR Snowflake Royal 29 Jun 2023 · 12:50pm

From the game I saw, if I was going to sign anyone from Cambridge it would be: Morrison Bennett (RB) McGrandles Brophy Smith In that order.
BL blythspartan 29 Jun 2023 · 12:51pm

I remember mentioning this player a few weeks ago as my mate from Ely has seen him play for Cambridge and rates him highly.
SR Snowflake Royal 29 Jun 2023 · 12:55pm

I think he said he was a striker, which didn’t seem to fit. Was used LW from what I can see.

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