Midfielder Tom Dele-Bashiru has signed for Reading on a years loan from Premier League Watford. Tom is Reading's first signing of the summer and joins the Royals in time to be included in the squad for Saturday's first home League game of the season as we face Preston North End. Dele-Bashiru appears to be a very exciting young prospect and he joins Reading looking to kick-start his career that has so far failed to get going due to injury.
He came through the Manchester City youth set-up and made a single appearance for City in the league cup before securing a long term contract with Watford. In his first season at Watford he failed to break into the team and played just three times in the League and FA Cups. He scored his only goal of his career so far in the FA Cup in January 2020 when he played all of a 3-3 draw with Tranmere. Last season he was limited to just two appearances in the Championship - first coming off the bench in a 1-0 home win over Luton in September 2020, and then making his first league start for the Hornets the following week against the Royals. The Royals went on to win that game 1-0, but for Dele-Bashiru the result was the least of his worries as he picked up a anterior cruciate ligament injury that kept him out for the rest of the season.
Tom Dele-Bashiru comes to Reading with plenty of potential and will be keen to impress. He is described by Reading manager Veljko Paunovic as "a very creative, clever, talented young player who adds much-needed strength to our midfield." With Reading looking to rely on academy players to play their part this season, he is likely to come straight into the first team squad where we hope he can make a big impact. Welcome to the club Tom!
Reading Sign A Player!
From the Discussion
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NA NathStPaul 12 Aug 2021 · 10:30am
Being reported that he is having a medical today. Watford youngster.
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NR Norfolk Royal 12 Aug 2021 · 10:36am
Coming back from a cruciate. No wonder the word 'medical' seems to loom in importance in reports of this. Assume he must have been in training. He has apparently. Ironic that he sustained the ACL injury against us. Good luck to the lad.
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HO Hound 12 Aug 2021 · 11:00am
loan? wiki reckons he has a 6 year deal with watford (now 5)
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SC Simon's Church 12 Aug 2021 · 11:01am
Hopefully this is to play in the u23s while Tetek covers the first team
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NA NathStPaul 12 Aug 2021 · 11:01am
Loan deal, yes. Of all the positions on the pitch central midfield would be the last place I would have wanted to be strengthened.
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HE Hendo 12 Aug 2021 · 11:01am
Yeah, season long loan apparently. Would imagine he'll be used for back-up/depth if he does play CM.
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HO Hound 12 Aug 2021 · 11:04am
or we're selling Laurent to Forest. quick scan round suggests he is a talented chap, but obvs coming back after a nasty injury
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PT Pepe the Horseman 12 Aug 2021 · 11:16am
Size of that quad. Watford fans are raving about him, so maybe a better signing than it seems on the face of it.
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PT Pepe the Horseman 12 Aug 2021 · 11:46am
Sounds like a replacement/upgrade for Semedo. Can play number 10 or DM.
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WE WestYorksRoyal 12 Aug 2021 · 12:28pm
The talent is undoubtedly there. Coming back from an ACL is tough though. Do we know if he got a good pre season under his belt?
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6K 6ft Kerplunk 12 Aug 2021 · 12:30pm
Never like it when we loan players who are on their way back from serious injury. Always feels a bit like we're getting used for the player's rehab.