READING’S attacking options have been boosted by the signing of Yann Kermorgant.
The 34-year-old penned an 18-month contract at Madejski Stadium upon making the switch from Premier League side AFC Bournemouth on Wednesday evening.
The fee paid by Royals to secure the signing of Frenchman Kermorgant is an undisclosed one, although a figure of £500,000 has been suggested in some circles.
The forward, who fired 17 goals in successive seasons for The Cherries between 2013 and 2015, could make his debut for Reading in Saturday’s clash with Sheffield Wednesday (3pm).
And the player is good for a goal on his first game for a new club too, having done it with his previous two employers, so Royals fans will no doubt be hoping he can keep up this trend should he feature against the Owls.
Kermorgant needed only 13 minutes to open his account for Charlton Athletic, where he stepped up off the bench to grab an equaliser against MK Dons back in 2011.
He also made an immediate impression when moving to the south coast, bagging a hat-trick during Bournemouth’s 5-0 rout of Doncaster Rovers.
The forward was also on target when Eddie Howe’s charges were 3-1 winners over his new club in a Championship fixture two years ago.
“I’m delighted to get Yann, a player we have known about for a long time,” said Reading boss Brian McDermott.
“In Yann we have an experienced striker with an excellent record and a player who will be able to work with our young players at the club and be a good centre-forward in the team we are trying to develop here at Reading.
“I am really looking forward to working with him.”
Royals have beaten a host of other clubs to land a player who has won league titles in England with both Charlton (League One) and Bournemouth (Championship).
Kermorgant first arrived in the country when joining Leicester City back in 2009, only to head back to France and spend a season on loan with Ligue 1 side AC Arles-Avignon before linking up with the Addicks, where he found the back of the net 12 times.
Reading’s chief executive Nigel Howe added of the transfer: “We are absolutely delighted to have fought off the interest of a number of other clubs to secure the services of striker Yann Kermorgant.
“He brings both a wealth of experience and an impressive goalscoring record to Reading Football Club and we look forward to welcoming him into our squad here at Madejski Stadium.”
