YANN KERMORGANT has completed a sensational u-turn and signed a new deal with Reading.
The striker, 35, announced that this season would be his last before retiring, but he has now had a change of heart.
Kermorgant has put pen-to-paper on a new deal which will now run until the summer of 2019.
The Frenchman played a key role in Royals reaching the play-offs last campaign with his 19 goals and made his return from injury this week.
“Yann was a very important player for us last season,” said manager Jaap Stam.
“Not only in the goals that he scored but also as a person with the right mentality and the right character.
“He has a massive influence within the squad in how he helped pushed other players to progress and lead by example with his work-rate out on the pitch and in demonstrating exactly what it takes to get results together as a team.
“Unfortunately he picked up the injury in pre-season so he has been out of action for the last few months, but in what he showed last season he deserved this new deal and everyone is happy he has signed up to stay with us for another year.”
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Chief Executive Ron Gourlay added: “Yann is as hungry for success and as eager to achieve as ever and it is fantastic news that we have agreed this contract extension until 2019.
“I am confident he will continue to be a hugely positive influence for this football club and a lynchpin within our first team squad.”
