Reading FC have signed Sam Hutchinson after he completed a successful trial period at the club.
Hutchinson has been on trial with the Royals and has featured in pre-season matches against SL Benfica and West Ham United.
His impressive performance in front of the home fans at the Select Car Leasing Stadium against the Hammers caught the eye of many in attendance.
He has put pen to paper on a two-year deal to becomes Reading’s seventh signing of the summer.
The 32-year-old has versatility with is preferred position being at centre-back, but he can also play in central midfield.
Hutchinson, who was born in Berkshire, started his youth career at Chelsea and was tipped to become a big star in West London.
After making three Premier League appearances for Chelsea’s first-team during his first spell at the club, Hutchinson decided to retire from professional football at the age of just 21 after persistent knee injuries in August 2010/
However, after making a good recovery, Hutchinson came out of retirement in December 2011 and signed a new one and a half year deal with the Blues.
He made two more league appearances for Chelsea and went out on loan to Nottingham Forest during his second spell.
He kickstarted his career after a move to Sheffield Wednesday loan in 2014 after a successful loan spell.
He went on to make 133 league appearances in his first six-year spell with Wednesday, with three goals to his name.
After a brief spell with Cpriot club Patos in 2020 where he made seven appearances, Hutchinson returned to Wednesday in January 2021.
He played 22 Championship games in the 2020/21 season and played 28 times in League One for Wednesday last campaign before the expiration of his contract in the summer.