Reading signed Porteguse forward Lucas Joao from Sheffield Wednesday for an undisclosed fee on a four-year contract.
Joao becomes the third Royals signing in a remarkable day for the club, having earlier announced the arrival of Brazilian goalkeeper Rafael and the loan signing of Pele from AS Monaco.
The 6’3 forward joined Sheffield Wednesday in 2015 and has since scored 26 goals in 112 Championship appearances for the Owls.
His last goal for Wednesday came against Reading as he scored the third goal in their 3-1 win over the Royals on the opening day of the Championship season last Saturday.
The 25-year-old now joins the Royals in a permanent deal believed to be in the region of £6million.
“I am delighted Lucas has agreed to be part of what we’re trying to build here at Reading,” said Reading manager Jose Gomes.
“A striker I have admired for some time, he has a commanding presence up front and, with a natural eye for goal, he is a player who is very difficult to defend against.
“So I’m looking forward to working with Lucas in training for the first time tomorrow.”
Chief Executive Nigel Howe said: “In the final 15 minutes of Saturday’s game, Royals fans saw everything they needed to understand what Lucas João will add to our squad this season; he is incredibly strong on the ball, a threat in the air, has pace and power in abundance…and he’s an instinctive finisher. I am confident he will deliver a new dimension to our attack and I’m delighted that the next time I see him play he will be wearing the Reading crest.”
