Alex McCarthy signs for QPR

The Royals can confirm that goalkeeper Alex McCarthy has this afternoon completed a transfer to Queens Park Rangers for an undisclosed fee.

— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) August 29, 2014

McCarthy has signed a four-year deal with the West London side, and though the fee remains undisclosed, GetReading's Charles Watts said on The Tilehurst End Podcast Extra this morning that he believes the fee to be in the region of £3m, along with some hefty sell-on clauses, as is the norm these days.

The Academy product came through the ranks with the likes of Jem Karacan, Alex Pearce and Gylfi Sigurdsson and made 70 League appearances for the Royals, 13 of those in the top flight during the 2012/13 season. He made 44 League appearances last term in the Championship, but Adam Federici took the starting berth at the beginning of this season. During his time in Berkshire, he was also called into an England friendly squad to play Brazil and Ireland, but ultimately didn't get his first cap.

With both first-team goalkeepers only having one year left on their contract (and Mikkel Andersen in the same situation), it made sense to cut ties with at least one, as both McCarthy and Federici are capable Championship goalkeepers, with neither wanting to sit on the bench. And if the fee is £3m, then that's a decent amount for a player with just a year left on his contract - the important step now is to secure Federici's future in a Royals shirt going forward. Some more Twitter reaction below...

NH: "We brought Alex here as a young player and he has developed into a fine goalkeeper who has been part of the senior England setup."

— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) August 29, 2014

Harry Redknapp: "He’s a great young goalkeeper with a great future in front of him." #WelcomeAlex pic.twitter.com/txH9bPAH7Y

— QPR FC (@QPRFC) August 29, 2014

Sad to see you go mate @Alex_Macca23 Unbelievable few years with us and wish you all the best at QPR love ya buddy! ❤️ good luck

— Jem Paul Karacan (@JemKaracan21) August 29, 2014