Adrian Popa Signing Confirmed

By Hob Nob Anyone?

The club have confirmed the incoming transfer of 28 year old Romanian winger Adrian Popa. The deal was widely reported in Romanian media last week after the club made revised bids for the player who was due to be out of contract in the summer. An initial bid of 500K Euros was turned down, but the Royals went back with an increased bid of 600K Euros which was accepted by Steaua Bucharest.

Popa has an impressive CV with 21 senior caps for Romania, three league titles with Steaua Bucharest and appearances in the Champions League and Europa League. Popa signed for Steaua in the summer of 2012 and went on to make 113 appearances for his side, hitting 16 goals in the process. His last appearance was in December when he scored the only goal in a 1-0 home win. He has also scored two goals for his country so far this season, including what turned out to be a crucial late goal in a 1-1 draw with Montenegro in a World Cup qualifier.

The confirmed signing of Popa is not expected to be Reading's final activity in the transfer market with Reading boss Jaap Stam hinting at a couple of likely signings last week. Popa is also seen as a good deal on transfer fees for the club, leaving money spare from the 10.4 million transfer and contract pot that was loaned by the club's potential new Chinese owners earlier this month. Fans will be hoping for one further signing to join new players Tiago Ilori and Adrian Popa, before the transfer window closes tomorrow evening at 11pm.

From the Discussion

LO LoyalRoyal22 27 Jan 2017 · 2:47pm

£500k bid rejected
BL bluerinse 27 Jan 2017 · 3:28pm

another winger???
SU Sutekh 27 Jan 2017 · 3:39pm

Capped 21 times by Romania since 2012 25 goals in 210 league games for Steaua, very roughly an average of around 1 goal every 8 games 28 years old and in last 6 months of contract Not to be confused with Adrian Popa, 26, who is a Romanian centre back for Alcala Another winger because Reading don't do strikers any more
MU muirinho 27 Jan 2017 · 3:46pm

Apparently bid of €600,000 has been accepted and he'll arrive tomorrow!
EP Elm Park Old Boy 27 Jan 2017 · 4:09pm

Nicknamed 'moped', apparently. :D
PT Pepe the Horseman 27 Jan 2017 · 4:24pm

The Romanian Shaqiri.
PA paddyaze 27 Jan 2017 · 4:32pm

Poor mans Shaqiri Then again Rakels looked like a poor mans Kanchelskis on youtube
LO LoyalRoyal22 27 Jan 2017 · 5:22pm

Deal agreed. Player confirms signing tomorrow.
AN Anonymous 27 Jan 2017 · 5:52pm

Good greif. Has Brian not learnt anything this season? File under Dennis Mendes Gravenberch Wiser VDB And that keeper Awful signing. Wasting money like this is rediculous.
CO CountryRoyal 27 Jan 2017 · 5:58pm

Romanian guy at the gym says he's a good player, highlighting his tenacity and work rate as a standout quality.
HO Hound 27 Jan 2017 · 6:01pm

I suppose worth a risk at that sort of price. When you see the prices quoted for players in this division can see why you'd look abroad Actually quite like Rakels. Disappointed he got that nasty injury, thought there was some potential there, and hopefully still is.
NA Nameless 27 Jan 2017 · 6:21pm

No, I've never heard of him either.....

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