Seven youngsters extend their stays in Berkshire
Signing on for the coming season, seven young Royals players have agreed new terms with the club that will see them remain in RG2 for at least another year.
Femi Azeez, James Holden, Lynford Sackey, Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan, Harvey Collins, Kian Leavy and Malachi Talent-Aryeetey have all put pen-to-paper on contracts this week that secure their future with the Royals.
Both striker Azeez and keeper Holden, who were already under professional contracts in RG2, have signed further one-year deals with the club, with the other five prospects securing their first pro-deals.
Azeez not only netted 10 goals to finish the 2020-21 campaign as top goalscorer for Mehmet Ali's U23s side, but he made his first team debut for the Royals in early March, entering the fray as a late substitute during a 3-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday.
The 20-year-old forward finished the year in fine form in the Premier League 2, and will be hoping to pick up where he left off as the new season nears.
Young shot-stopper Holden is sticking around too, and having gained game time in senior football at the tail end of last season while on loan at Maidenhead United, he'll be keen to take his National League experiences into the coming year.
The former Bury goalie, who arrived in Berkshire back in July 2020, made five appearances for the Magpies during May, in addition to impressing in his six PL2 outings.
Midfielder Sackey has also agreed to another year with the Royals, this comes on the back of a season in which he too made his first team debut, coming off the bench in the 70th-minute during our Carabao Cup Round Two meeting with Luton Town.
Joining Azeez as a second forward to sign on the dotted line, 18-year-old Ehibhatiomhan has extended his time at Reading by another year. He spent the 2020-21 campaign playing for our U18s, Kelvin’s goals took him into double figures, with 10 strikes in 18 outings. His form under Michael Donaldson and Mikele Leigertwood also saw him move up into the Under-23s for a handful of appearances off the bench during the same season.
The second keeper to remain with the club, Collins is the only one of the young cohort to sign for two more years, remaining with the club until summer of 2023. Harvey joined the club's Academy at the age of 11, and after spending last season with the U18s, he steps into the U23s set-up for the coming term.
Republic of Ireland U19 international midfielder Kian Leavy's newest deal runs for another year, described as an old-fashioned number 10, Drogheda-raised Leavy made 15 appearances for the U23s during the 2020-21 season.
Promising midfielder Talent-Aryeetey is the final member of the seven to also agree a new one-year deal, his first senior contract with the club. Making 16 appearances for our U18s last term, like Collins, Malachi will step up into the U23s fold this year, having made one appearance for Ali's side last season.
Congratulations to Femi, James, Lynford, Kelvin, Harvey, Kian and Malachi from all the club!