After becoming a regular in the Reading team this season, Yakou Meite has been rewarded with a new contract which will keep him at the club for four more years.
The 22-year-old, who’s previous deal was set to run out next summer, has made 12 appearances for the Royals in 2018/19 (scoring once, against Birmingham in the Carabao Cup), his most consistent run in the team to date. Having signed from PSG in 2016, Meite featured 15 times in his first season before being loaned to FC Sochaux in Ligue 2 last year.
Born in France to Ivorian parents, the forward has played for the Ivory Coast at youth level and was called up to the senior squad for the first time back in March.
On the new deal for ‘La Brute’, Paul Clement told the official club website:
“Yakou is a strong, powerful, versatile, attack-minded player who has demonstrated he is capable of playing in a number of different positions on the pitch. At 22 years of age, he is a player who I believe will continue to improve and I am delighted he has committed to a new contract at the club.”
Ron Gourlay added:
“Yakou came back from a season on loan in France desperate to impress and his hard work in training alongside his performances in pre-season and at the start of our 2018-19 campaign have earned him this new deal. So I am delighted he has committed his long-term future to the club.”
The remaining Reading players whose contracts expire next summer are Anssi Jaakkola, Paul McShane, John O’Shea, Tyler Blackett, Danzell Gravenberch, Joey van den Berg, Callum Harriott and Dave Edwards.