Lewis Baker Joins Reading On Loan

Reading have confirmed the signing of Lewis Baker, who joins on loan from Chelsea until the end of the season. The 23 year-old had been in the middle of a temporary spell at Leeds United, but the Blues recalled him before sending him to Berkshire.

Baker brings plenty of talent to the Madejski Stadium, and is one of Chelsea’s more talked-about youth prospects of recent years. He’s been honing that ability in the Championship at Middlesbrough and Leeds in the last two seasons.

He caught the eye in an impressive two-year loan spell at Vitesse Arnhem, where he scored 20 goals in 73 appearances from midfield, also registering 11 assists. However, he’s not hit the same heights in England, featuring just 14 times for Middlesbrough and 14 times for Leeds.

Nonetheless, he should bring a barrel-load of talent - if Jose Gomes can get the most out of him. The manager was predictably upbeat about the signing, saying:

“Lewis is a player of undoubted ability who, having grown up at Chelsea, has gone on to regularly represent his country at youth level and earn valuable first team experience on loan both in England and Holland. Importantly, he also knows what it takes to meet the demands of this division and I am looking forward to him joining the group in training for the first time tomorrow.”

While Nigel Howe added:

“Lewis is a very talented young footballer who has been on the club’s radar for a number of years now. He is another player who we feel will fit seamlessly into the style of play the manager is implementing and offer added quality to our first team squad.”

Baker is Reading’s second signing of January, joining Liverpool loanee Ovie Ejaria in coming through the Madejski Stadium door. We wish him the best of luck in his stay at the club.