Sone Aluko Completes Move To Reading FC

It’s been a rumour for the majority of the summer, but Sone Aluko’s move to Reading is a now official following confirmation from the official club website that the forward has joined from Fulham on a four year deal. He’ll take squad number 14 at the Mad Stad.

He had only been at Craven Cottage for one full season after transferring from Hull City in the summer of 2016, but now becomes a Royal for a reported fee of £7.5 million.

Aluko netted nine goals in 54 appearances for Fulham, including one against Reading when Jaap Stam’s side were thrashed 5-0 in West London last December. Prior to his move to the capital the 28-year-old played for Birmingham City, Aberdeen, Blackpool, Rangers and Hull, with his best goalscoring campaign coming at Ibrox in 2011/12 when he netted 12 goals in 23 games.

Whilst his sister Eni, a striker for Chelsea ladies, represented England at international level, Sone chose to play for Nigeria, who he has seven caps and two goals for. However he has not been called up by the Super Eagles since November 2014.

On the deal, Jaap Stam said:

“In Sone, we welcome a quality player into our squad. With his pace and ability on the ball, he can make life difficult for every opponent we face this season and he has experience of playing at the level we want to play at.

“He poses a threat going forward, he keeps the ball well, he can play as a striker or out on the wing and I am sure he will improve us as a squad. So I’m very happy that he has chosen to join us.”

Ron Gourlay also spoke highly of Aluko:

“Acquiring a player of Aluko’s unquestionable talent demonstrates this club’s ambition and hunger for more success. I am very pleased that Sone has opted to become a part of what we are trying to build here at Reading and I am sure he will prove an exciting addition to our first team squad.”

Finally, Brian Tevreden added:

“Sone has been a target throughout the summer and I am absolutely delighted that we have been able to get this deal over the line. We are bringing in a very talented player who in the prime of his career at 28 and as our seventh summer signing, Sone will add to a squad which now has ability in abundance and strength in depth.”

We’ve looked at both sides of Aluko signing today, with Bucks arguing for his arrival here and Olly arguing against his arrival here.