In an already very busy summer, Reading have completed their sixth signing, bringing in Roy Beerens. The 28 year-old Dutchman arrives on a permanent transfer from Hertha Berlin, signing a three year contract.
Although the fee is officially recorded as 'undisclosed' (not that we've ever heard that one before...), Get Reading put it in the region of €600,000. Other reports have put the figure just past the €1,000,000 mark but, even if that were the case, it's still not a huge outlay for Beerens.
Why did Reading sign him?
Roy Beerens is a veteran of the Dutch Eredivisie, having played for the likes of PSV Eindhoven, Heerenveen and AZ Alkmaar. However, as mentioned above, his most recent experience came in the German Bundesliga at Hertha Berlin.
Jaap Stam had this to say on his latest signing:
"Roy has a lot of qualities – he is a winger that can play on either the left or the right, and technically he is very strong. He has pace, he can score goals and create chances for others.
“I think he is going to be a player the fans will enjoy watching. We want players who are comfortable on the ball, can use possession and create things. So when the opportunity to sign him arose, Brian Tevreden began talks with his agent immediately and now we’re very happy that Roy is joining us.”
That 'opportunity' which Stam referred to relates to a failed move this summer. Beerens had been set for a transfer from Hertha Berlin to Stuttgart, but the move collapsed. A few days ago, Stam told Get Reading's Charles Watts:
“We had five or six wing players who we wanted - but they all went somewhere else or were asking for too much money.
"Then the situation with Roy happened. He was supposed to be go to Stuttgart but that fell through which opened up an opportunity for us to sign him.”
Another Dutchman added to the collection
After today's transfer, Beerens becomes Reading's sixth signing of the summer. He joins compatriots Danzell Gravenberch and Joey Van den Berg, and also Joseph Mendes, Anssi Jaakola and John Swift.
I'd imagine that Beerens will be a key player for us next season, what with him adding experience to a position that's lightly stocked at the moment.
Moreover, due to his exploits in the Eredivisie, he could be vital for implementing a Dutch style of football at the Mad Stad. Like fellow ex-Heerenveen man Joey Van den Berg, he'll be an important leader on the pitch for Jaap Stam.