Experienced defender Dann initially agreed terms on a one-year deal with the Royals in August 2021, following his departure from Premier League outfit Crystal Palace.

With nearly 250 Premier League appearances to his name, the 34-year-old centre-back’s contract expired with the Eagles, and he opted to work under Veljko Paunovic at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

The Liverpool-born centre-back arrived with more 450 career appearances to his name and it all began for the defender at Walsall, where he spent the first five years of his career – making his professional debut as a Saddler in a 3-0 League One win over Chesterfield in January 2005.

Capped internationally by the England Under-21 side whilst at the Bescot Stadium, Dann furthered his development with loan moves to Danish side Koge BK as well as Redditch United and Hednesford Town.

In 2006, he lifted the League Two title with Walsall and Dann was soon snapped up by Championship side, Coventry City, where he would spend two seasons in tier two. The centre-half captained the Sky Blues, and his performances were quickly rewarded with a Premier League move across the West Midlands to Birmingham City in June 2009.

His first taste of top-flight football was accompanied by some silverware at St Andrew’s when he helped City win the Carling Cup in 2011.

He joined Blackburn Rovers the following summer, and after more than 100 starts at Ewood Park, Dann signed for newly-promoted Crystal Palace in 2013 – the start of an eight-year spell at Selhurst Park.

During his time as an Eagle, Dann earned the captain’s armband, was named the club’s Player of the Year in 2014-15 and played in an FA Cup Final against Manchester United at Wembley the following year.

In his final season with Palace, Dann registered 15 Premier League appearances, scoring the last of his 16 goals for the club when he headed home from an Eberechi Eze corner to register the opening goal in a 4-1 win over Leeds United.

Dann made his Royals debut away to Derby County and his experience showed over the course of the campaign, on and off the pitch, as he featured 18 times and scored twice in home matches against Blackpool and Nottingham Forest to earn a contract extension until 2023.