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Reading Football Club are delighted to confirm that the paperwork has been completed to ensure midfielder Sam Hutchinson will be a Royal until the summer of 2024.
The former Chelsea and England youth international has been training with Paul Ince’s first team in recent weeks, playing in pre-season friendlies against Colchester United, Maidenhead United, Benfica, West Ham and AFC Wimmbledon last night - and he impressed the Royals boss to now earn a permanent contract at the club.
Head of Football Operations, Mark Bowen, said: “Sam has been a model professional since arriving at the club towards the end of last month to train with our first team group. He was quickly identified as a positive influence within the squad and a player we wanted to keep at the club and I am very pleased that we have been able to agree a deal which will see him pull on the blue and white hoops this season and next.”
Born in Windsor, Hutchinson began his career at Chelsea – coming up through the Academy ranks from the age of 9 to make his Stamford Bridge debut whilst still only 17 years of age.
That professional debut was granted by Jose Mourinho when Sam was introduced as a late substitute for Wayne Bridge in Chelsea’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Everton in May 2007.
His first start came in a 1-0 Carling Cup win over QPR two years later, playing alongside the likes of Frank Lampard, Florent Malouda, Salomon Kalou and Ashley Cole before making way for John Terry late in the cup tie.
Having recovered from a knee injury, he made more top-flight appearances for Chelsea before embarking on a loan spell with Nottingham Forest – getting on the scoresheet on his home debut in a win over Charlton in September 2012.
After a brief spell in Holland with Vitesse Arnhem he joined Sheffield Wednesday on loan in February 2014 and he made that move permanent in the summer that followed.
He went on to spent the next six years of his career at Hillsborough and, after a short stint with in Cyprus, he returned to the Owls to feature regularly at Wednesday throughout the last 18 months.
In total, the former England youth international totted up more than 200 appearances as a Sheffield Wednesday player, scoring eight goals as an Owl.
He linked up with our first team squad at Bearwood Park to train under Paul Ince when pre-season training resumed in June and now Sam is a Royal until 2024.
Manager Paul Ince said, “Sam is a player who knows this division inside out and, in training with us during the last few weeks, he has shown me and my coaching staff all we needed to see. Capable of playing at the back or in midfield, he is a true competitor on the pitch - committed in every challenge, hungry for the ball and, importantly, he is a winner. He has earned this new opportunity and I’m sure he will be a real asset to this group of players.”
