End Of Season Loan Report

Jonathan Bond

Peterborough United (League One) Appearances: 37

Bond ended up appearing 37 times for Posh as they finished ninth in League One. He was a regular in the side that missed out on the play-offs by seven points, and although Peterborough extended his short-term loan to a season-long one in January, they look unlikely to keep him. He has also been released by Reading following the conclusion of his contract with the Royals.

Andrija Novakovich

SC Telstar (Eerste Divisie) Appearances: 38 Goals: 22

Novakovich has had an outstanding season in the Dutch Second Division, scoring 22 goals in 38 games. The American striker guided his side to a sixth placed finish, earned a USMNT call-up in the process and finished second in the league’s golden boot race. Novakovich has a year left on his current deal at Reading, and he’ll be hoping to kick on this off-season and cement a role back at the Royals in 2018/19.

Danzell Gravenberch

KSV Roeselare (Belgian First Division B) Appearances: 6

Gravenberch played just six times this season as his year-long loan spell at Roeselare proved a disappointing one. On a potential second chance in Berkshire, Gravenberch said in March:

“I do not immediately assume that Reading say I get a new chance, and if they say that, I first want to discuss with the club what they exactly mean by a new chance, because clubs often promise all players a fair chance in preparation.”

Yakou Meite

FC Sochaux (Ligue 2) Appearances: 31 Goals: 5

Meite started 13 times during his year-long loan spell at Sochaux and came off the bench 18 times. His role as a ‘super sub’ may be similar to the role he’ll likely try to carve out at Reading in the 2018/19 season, and his performances also earned him an international call-up for the Ivory Coast’s fixture against Togo. His goal against Colomiers was nominated for Sochaux’s goal of the season award:

Luke Southwood

Bath City (National League South) Appearances: 42

Southwood was a virtual ever-present for Bath this season, and his fine performances earned him a place on the England U21 standby list for this summer’s Toulon tournament. Southwood should be pushing for the back-up spot behind Vito Mannone next season, despite the Royals’ decision to retain Anssi Jaakkola.

Josh Barrett

Coventry City (League Two) Appearances: 6

Barrett appeared just six times for City this season, five of which came off the bench. Coventry made the Play-Off final this week, and face Exeter for a place in League One. Barrett will be hoping to play a part once again, and should return to Reading in the summer hoping to cement a role on the team in the 2018/19 season.

Deniss Rakels

Cracovia (Ekstraklasa) Appearances: 12 Goals: 1

Rakels made 12 appearances at Cracovia since joining on loan for the remainder of the season back in January. He has been released by Reading following the conclusion of his contract, but it is unlikely he will re-sign with his former club after being a bit-part player over the past five months.

Adrian Popa

Al Taawon (Saudi Professional League) Appearances: 9

Since departing the Royals in January, Popa has made just nine appearances at Al Taawon, four of which came off the bench. The winger was reportedly close to re-joining his former side Steaua Bucharest in January, and with the 29-year-old seemingly out of favour at Reading, that mutual interest may be rekindled this summer.

Sandro Wieser

KSV Roeselare (Belgian First Division B) Appearances: 10

Wieser made six starts for the Belgian club over the course of the season, and a further four appearances off the bench. Wieser is expected to leave the club this summer, with a return to FC Aarau a possibility.

Lewis Ward

Aldershot Town (National League) Appearances: 25

Ward helped his side to a fifth placed finish in the National League this season, after cementing his spot as the Shots’ number one, playing 25 times since joining on loan in November. In the play-offs, Ward saved two penalties during a shoot out against Ebbsfleet, before missing what proved to be the final penalty in the defeat in a heart-breaking end to a successful loan spell for the young keeper.

Star loanee of the 2018/19 season: Andrija Novakovich