Experienced former-England international striker arrives in Berkshire
Reading Football Club are delighted to announce the signing of striker Andy Carroll, who arrives at the club having put pen to paper on a short-term contract which will run until mid-January 2022.
The 32-year-old brings a wealth of experience to Veljko Paunovic’s squad, having spent the last decade playing his football in the Premier League for the likes of Newcastle United, Liverpool and West Ham United.
Capped nine times for England, Carroll arrived at Bearwood Park first thing this morning before completing a medical and the relevant paperwork at the Royals’ training ground. He will now aim to sharpen his match fitness so he is able to hit the ground running and start firing for the Royals in Championship action.
Royals boss Veljko Paunovic said, “This is a deal which we have been working on for some time and are confident it is the right move for both player and club. Andy is looking for a new challenge in his career and we need a player with his quality and vast experience! So this is a great match and I’m really looking forward to working with Andy over the next couple of months.”
Andy began his career with boyhood club Newcastle United, signing his first professional contract with the Magpies in 2006 – he went on to score 33 times in 91 appearances for United during his first stint at St James’ Park, helping them win the second tier title and rise back into the Premier League in 2010.
In January 2011, Newcastle accepted a bid from Liverpool and the Gateshead-born forward left the north-east for Anfield where he lifted the League Cup and scored in an FA Cup Final in his first season as a Red.
After a season on loan at West Ham he signed for the Hammers permanently in 2013 and then returned to Tyneside six years later to don the black and white stripes of United once more.
Internationally, Carroll represented the Three Lions at youth level before breaking into the senior side to make his England debut against France in a friendly in November 2010. He has scored twice for his country – his first in a friendly against Ghana before finding the net for Roy Hodgson’s men in a 3-2 win over Sweden at Euro 2012.
Out of contract last summer, Carroll has kept himself fit, waiting for the right opportunity to accept his next challenge. And that opportunity has arisen with the Royals.
Royals Chief Executive Dayong Pang said, “With long-term injuries to two of our key goalscorers, our strength in depth in attack has understandably been limited all season, so I am very pleased that Andy has agreed to join us. With a proven eye for goal, I am sure he will offer our first team squad something different as we approach another busy period of Championship football.”
Welcome to Reading, Andy!
