Senegalese midfielder Mamadou Loum completed a season long loan switch to the Royals on the eve of the 2022-23 Championship campaign, joining on loan from Portuguese champions FC Porto.

Born in the capital city of Dakar, Loum left his homeland for Portugal in 2015, signing for SC Braga and becoming a regular in their B side over the next four years that competes in the Portuguese second tier.

His first taste of top flight football was while on loan at Moreirense in the first half of the 2018-19 campaign where he scored once in their win at champions elect Benfica.

He joined Porto initially on loan in January 2019 and opened his account for the club against Pacos Ferreira. He has competed against Europe's elite whilst with the Dragons and featuring in their famous UEFA Champions League elimination of a Juventus side that included Cristiano Ronaldo in 2020.

Loum spent the 2021-22 season on loan with Spanish top flight side Alaves and played 32 times in La Liga, where the defensive midfielder scored in wins over Elche and Valencia.

On the international stage, Loum made his Senegal debut in 2019 and was a member of their Africa Cup of Nations winning squad in 2021, when they overcame Egypt on penalties in the final in Cameroon.