Former Academy graduate, Sam Smith, returns to Reading to sign contract which will run until 2026
Two years after he departed, striker Sam Smith is a Royal once more.
The 25-year-old striker this morning put pen to paper on a three-year contract which sees him resume his career at Reading Football Club following two successful seasons at Cambridge United.
Smith arrived in Reading after an early spell in the youth system at Manchester United and he was handed his first professional contract in the summer of 2016 before enjoying a loan stint at Bishop’s Stortford to earn his first experience of competitive football.
Sam became Academy graduate number 43 when he was earned his professional debut as a Royal; starting in a 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Gillingham at the beginning of the 2017-18 season, he scored his first goal in Reading colours two weeks later when he smashed high past Millwall goalkeeper Tom King in a 3-1 cup win over Millwall in RG2.
Smith made his league debut when he came off the bench in a 2-0 win at Birmingham City, replacing Jon Dadi Bodvarsson at St Andrew’s at the end of that month.
Whilst impressing at Under-23 level, the Manchester-born forward registered a first league start at home to Middlesbrough and his first goal came as a Royal in March 2018 in a narrow 3-2 defeat to Norwich at Carrow Road.
Still learning his trade, Smith embarked on loan spells with Oxford United, Shrewsbury Town, Cambridge United, Tranmere Rovers and Cheltenham Town – but it was his eight goals in 28(+6) appearances at the Abbey Stadium which saw him return to Cambridge United permanently in 2021.
At United, Smith has proven League One pedigree. He scored 35 goals across all competitions during just two seasons with Cambridge – making a staggering 88 (+21) appearances since making his debut in a varsity clash with Oxford on the opening day of the 2021-22 season.
Last season, he scored a 35-minute hat-trick to help United earn three points at home to Burton Albion at the end of August.
And he finished the season in fine goalscoring form, scoring in seven of the League One slide’s last nine fixtures including the second in a 2-0 home win over Forest Green on he last day of the campaign.
Out of contract this summer, Smith has opted to return to the Royals and we are very pleased to welcome one of our own back through the gates at Bearwood Park.
Head of Football Operations, Mark Bowen, said: “Sam has all the attributes we are seeking in a new recruit – young and hungry for success, full of energy, power and explosive pace, a proven goalscoring record at this level and his roots are Royal! I’m delighted he is come back home to Reading Football Club and I can’t wait to see how, during two years at Cambridge, he has matured into the player he is now and what sort of a striker he can become in the next three years in blue and white hoops.”
