The 2022–23 season was Reading's 152nd year in existence and tenth consecutive season in the Championship,[1] and covers the period from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023.
Season review
Pre-season
On 16 May, Paul Ince was confirmed as Reading's permanent manager,[2] with Mark Bowen also returning to the club as Head of Football Operations.[3]
On 30 May, Reading confirmed that the squad would return for pre-season training on 20 June, with the squad spending a week training at St George's Park National Football Centre before taking part in a series of pre-season friendlies.[5] The following day, 31 May, Reading announced their first pre-season friendly, a trip to Plough Lane to face AFC Wimbledon on 14 July.[6]
On 6 June, Reading announced that they would end their week-long training camp at St George's Park National Football Centre, with a behind-closed-doors friendly against Benfica.[7]
On 15 June, Reading announced a friendly against Brighton & Hove Albion was announced the same day, to be played at 3pm, 23 July at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, whilst a behind-closed-doors friendly against Colchester United was also announced for 2 July.
On 23 June, the EFL Championship scheduled was released for the season, with Reading starting their season with an away trip to Blackpool on 30 July and ending the season with an away trip to Huddersfield Town on 6 May 2023.[10] The following day, Cardiff City announced the signing of Andy Rinomhota.[11]
On 8 July, Reading confirmed that Andy Yiadom had been appointed as the clubs new Club Captain.[12]
On 19 June, Reading announced their first signing of the summer, with Joe Lumley signing on loan from Middlesbrough for the season.[17] The following day, 20 June, during a pre-season interview with him, Reading confirmed that they had triggered a clause in Jeriel Dorsett's contract that would extend his stay with Reading until the summer of 2023.[18]
On 21 June, Reading announced the signing of Tom Ince to a three-year contract beginning 1 July once his Stoke City contract expires.[19]
On 2 July, Reading confirmed that Femi Azeez had signed a new contract with the club until the summer 2024, whilst Nahum Melvin-Lambert and Hamid Abdel Salam had also both signed new contract with the club for the 2022–23 season.[24]
On 5 July, Reading confirmed that both Junior Hoilett and Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan had signed new contracts with Reading, Hoilett until the summer of 2023 and Ehibhatiomhan the summer of 2024.[25]
On 7 July, Reading confirmed that Jahmari Clarke had signed a new contract with the club.[26] The following day, 8 July, Reading announced the signing of Tyrese Fornah on a season-long loan deal from Nottingham Forest.[27]
On 12 July, Reading announced the season-long loan signing of Jeff Hendrick from Newcastle United.[28] The following day, 13 July, Reading announced the return of Shane Long on a one-year contract after he'd left Southampton earlier in the summer.[29]
On 20 July, Reading announced the signing of Sam Hutchinson to a two-year contract, after he'd impressed on trial following the expiration of his Sheffield Wednesday contract at the end of June 2022.[30] The following day, 21 July, Tom Holmes was confirmed as Readings Vice-Captain for the season, behind Captain Andy Yiadom.[31]
On 29 July, Reading announced the signing of Nesta Guinness-Walker to a one-year contract after impressing on trial following the expiration of his AFC Wimbledon contract at the end of the previous season.[33] Later the same day, Reading announced the signing of Mamadou Loum on a season-long loan deal from Porto.[34]
July
Reading started the season with an away match against Blackpool, where an early goal from Callum Connolly gave the hosts all three points.[Report 1]
On 19 August, Reading announced that Ayyuba Jambang, Ethan Burnett, Josh Green and Adrian Akande had all joined the U21s set up.[36]
On 25 August, Reading confirmed that George Pușcaș had joined Genoa on a season-long loan deal.[37] The following day, 26 August, Reading announced the signing of Naby Sarr to a four-year contract after a successful trial period.[38]
On 31 August, Reading confirmed the return of Baba Rahman on loan from Chelsea for the season.[39]
On 9 September, Readings away trip to Watford, scheduled for 10 September, was postponed after the EFL postponed all football fixtures from 9 – 11 September as a mark of respect following the death of Elizabeth II the previous day.[41]
On 12 September, Reading announced that Nahum Melvin-Lambert had signed for Hemel Hempstead Town on a one-month youth loan deal.[42] Later the same day, Reading confirmed that their postponed match against Watford from 9 September, would now be played at 19:45 on 8 November.[43]
On 13 September, Reading confirmed the singing of Amadou Mbengue on a short-term contract until January 2023 after training with the club since leaving Metz during the summer and that Abraham Kanu had also signed his first professional club with the club.[44] The following day, 14 September, Ethan Burnett joined Havant & Waterlooville on loan until January 2023.[45] On 15 September, Andy Carroll returned to the club, signing a 4-month contract with the club, until January 2023.[46]
On 30 September, Reading announced the signing of Lui Bradbury on a free transfer to their Under-21 set-up, after he'd left Leeds United during the summer, whilst Benjamin Purcell joined Hartley Wintney on a one-month loan deal and David Nyarko joined Thatcham Town on a month-long work experience placement.[47]
October
On 29 October, Reading announced that Jahmari Clarke had joined Woking on a month-long youth loan deal.[48]
December
On 14 December, Reading recalled Benjamin Purcell from his loan with Hartley Wintney, and immediately loaned him to Farnborough.[49]
January
On 10 January, Andy Carroll signed a contract extension with Reading, keeping at the club until the summer of 2024.[50]
On 13 January, Reading announced that Amadou Mbengue had extended his contract with the club until the end of the season, with a view to a further extension.[51]
On 30 January, Reading announced the signing of Cesare Casadei from Chelsea on loan for the remainder of the season.[53]
On 31 January, after his emergency-loan to Exeter City ended, Jökull Andrésson joined Stevenage on loan for the remainder of the season.[54] On the same day, Jahmari Clarke joined Forest Green Rovers on loan for the remainder of the season.[55]
February
On 3 February, Nahum Melvin-Lambert joined Weymouth on a one-month loan deal, with David Nyarko joining him at Weymouth on a work experience deal.[56]
On 15 February, Reading announced the signing of Matthew Carson following a successful trial, and Benjamin Purcell was recalled from his loan deal with Farnborough.[58]
On 1 March, there were reports that the team were facing another six-point deduction for breaching profitability and sustainability rules.[62]
April
On 4 April, the club and the EFL confirmed that the club had failed to satisfy a business plan agreed after a historical breach of the EFL’s Profit and Sustainability limits. As a result, they received a six-point deduction.[63] The sanction meant that they were just one point above the relegation zone. It was their second points deduction after the club were docked six points during the 2021–22 season.
On 11 April, Paul Ince's contract as First Team Manager was terminated, with Under-21 Manager Noel Hunt appointed as Interim Manager until the end of the season.[64]
May
On 4 May, Huddersfield Town's victory over Sheffield United confirmed Reading's relegation to League One. It would be the Royals' first time in the third division in 21 years.
On 17 May, Reading announced an update on out of contract players for the upcoming season, with Scott Dann, Luke Southwood, Shane Long, Liam Moore, Lucas João and Dejan Tetek all departing when their contracts expire at the end of June, whilst Nesta Guinness-Walker had a clause activated in his contract that will see him part of the squad for the 2023–24 season. Additionally, Yakou Meite had been offered a new contract, Amadou Mbengue had been offered a new two-year contract and Junior Hoilett a new one-year contract.
From the U21 squad, Coniah Boyce-Clarke had been offered a three-year contract, and John Clarke had been offered a new one-year contract, whist Hamid Abdel-Salam, Adrian Akande, Harvey Collins, Matt Rowley and Michael Stickland all had clauses in their contracts triggered for the 2023–24 season. Matthew Carson and Jeriel Dorsett were also offered new contract.
Meanwhile, Lui Bradbury, Ethan Burnett, Josh Green, Nahum Melvin-Lambert, Kian Leavy, Claudio Osorio and Rashawn Scott would all leave the club at the end of their contract.
The club also offered first professional contract with the club to Harvey Maudner, Jacob Borgnis, Tom Norcott, Caylan Vickers, Jeremiah Okine-Peters and Basil Tuma, whilst David Nyarko, Ryley Campbell, Kyle Daniel-Spray, Harrison Furlong, Louis Hutchings, Troy Murray, Zion Nditi and Aston Greaver would all leave the club.[65]
On 21 June, with the opening of the Transfer Window, Reading confirmed that George Pușcaș had left the club join Genoa for an undisclosed fee, paid to the club in instalments and that Yakou Méïté had turned down a new contract with the club.[67][68]
On 27 June, Reading confirmed that Tom Ince had left the club to sign for Watford for an undisclosed fee.[69]
^Luke Southwood was born in Oxford, England, but qualified to represent Northern Ireland, and made his international debut for Northern Ireland in March 2022, having previously played for England at U20 level.
^Tom McIntyre was born in Reading, England, but qualified to represent Scotland, representing them at U17, U20 and U21 level.
^Andy Yiadom was born in Holloway, England, but qualified to represent Ghana and made his international debut for Ghana in January 2017. He previously represented England at C level.
^Liam Moore was born in Loughborough, England, but qualified to represent Jamaica, and made his international debut for Jamaica in March 2021.
^Kelvin Abrefa was born in Italy to Ghanaian parents, going on to make his debut for Ghana U20 in June 2022.
^Dejan Tetek was born in Oxford, England to Serbian parents, making his debut for England U18 in 2019, before switching to represent Serbia at U19 in 2022 and U21 in 2021.
^Lucas João was born in Lisbon, Portugal, and represented Portugal twice in Friendly matches in 2015, before switching international allegiances to Angola in 2022, making his debut for against Guinea-Bissau in March 2022.
^Yakou Méïte was born in Paris, France, but qualified to represent the Ivory Coast,and made his international debut for Ivory Coast in March 2019.
^Jahmari Clarke was born in England, but qualified to represent Jamaica, and made his international debut for Jamaica U20 in June 2022.
^Coniah Boyce-Clarke was born in England, but qualified to represent Jamaica, and made his international debut for Jamaica U20 in June 2022.
^ahum Melvin-Lambert was born in England, but qualified to represent Saint Lucia, and made his international debut for Saint Lucia in June 2023.
^Basil Tuma was born in Uganda, but qualified to represent Malta, and made his international debut for Malta U20 in November 2022.
Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
On 23 June, the EFL Championship scheduled was released for the season, with Reading starting their season with an away trip to Blackpool on 30 July and ending the season with an away trip to Huddersfield Town on 6 May 2023.[10]
Stadium: Vicarage Road Attendance: 18,847 Referee: James Linington
Note: Match originally scheduled for 10 September, but postponed on 9 September as a mark of respect following the death of Elizabeth II and rearranged on 12 September for 8 November.[41][43]
Note: Match originally scheduled to kick off at 15:00, but brought forward due to England’s progression to the Quarter-Finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[116]
