With the end of the season fast approaching all clubs in the football pyramid will be looking at which players they will still have on their books come the end of the season. Contracts coming to an end spark not only a great opportunity to pick up talent for cheap but also concern for fans who don’t want to see players leave.
Reading are in a precarious situation at the moment, with ownership currently in the process of (hopefully) being passed over after exclusivity was announced earlier this week. Further uncertainty remains over which league the Royals will play in next season, currently sat 18th in League One.
In recent years, contract lengths have been restricted due to transfer embargos constantly placed on the club. No player has signed a contract greater then 3 years since Ovie Ejaria in 2020, when he penned a four-year contract.
The Royals have a few first-team players with contracts expiring this summer, have a look into who these are below.
Femi Azeez
Azeez signed a two-year extension in 2022, following a strong debut season in 2021/22. The winger is now one of the first names on the team sheet, still at just 22 years old. This season Azeez has contributed eight goals and seven assists, making him Reading’s third-top scorer and joint-highest assist contributor with Lewis Wing.
Azeez will be hard to keep in the summer with big-money offers likely to come in from Championship clubs in the summer. If, and it’s a big if, Reading are able to keep Azeez for next season that is arguably as good as a new signing.
Clinton Mola
After being released by VfB Stuttgart in the summer, Mola signed a one-year deal with the Royals last summer. The English full-back has started to become a mainstay in the starting eleven in recent weeks as Reading look thin in defensive areas. Despite being left-footed, Mola has played on both sides of the defence this season. Often being drawn into the side to cover for absentees, specifically for Jeriel Dorsett while he was injured.
Mola has divided opinions and can be hit or miss in some games, but the quality he has is definitely enough to deserve at least another year in Berkshire. The versatility he offers would be difficult to replace, even if he just becomes squad depth next season.
Joel Pereira
Pereira is a name a few may recognise due to his time at Manchester United, despite leaving the Red Devils in 2018. Since then, he has been at five clubs before joining Reading from RKC Waalwijk in the Netherlands last summer. The Portuguese shot-stopper had been limited to cup fixtures before recent weeks when he was called up to cover for David Button. In the two League One games which he has played, he has impressed, managing to keep a clean sheet against Cambridge United.
Pereira, unlike many others on the list, has the option to extend for a further year. An option which you would expect Reading to take up as not just a strong backup but potentially forcing his way into the side with his good form.
Jeriel Dorsett
An academy graduate in Berkshire, Dorsett has been patient for his breakthrough into the first team. Being at the club since he was 13, Dorsett has had two loan moves away to Rochdale AFC and Kilmarnock before getting his chance in blue and white. Dorsett signed a year extension last summer and has been given his chance this year, making 22 appearances.
It would be great to see Dorsett sign on again for next year, not only because he has been at the club for over a decade but also because his form this season has earned him an extension.
Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan
Another academy graduate, Ehibhatiomhan has broken into the first team set-up this year after being on the cuff in previous seasons. Kelvin E has made an astonishing 40 appearances this season with 10 goals to add to that, despite most of them being off the bench.
Ehibhatiomhan is a marmite player for many, some are big fans, and some are frustrated by his on-pitch presence. Having made a couple of starts on the wing, Kelvin seems to be comfortable out wide rather than through the middle. A promising talent, keeping Kelvin would be a good piece of business as in a few years he may feel like one that got away.
Sam Hutchinson
34-year-old Sam Hutchinson has been a Royal for two years and has provided significant experience to very youthful sides. However, Hutchinson has only managed 26 appearances across the two seasons and hasn’t featured in a matchday squad for Reading since December.
Despite a wealth of experience, Hutchinson is unlikely to get the offer of a contract renewal having found himself surplus to requirements in the second half of the season.
Tivonge Rushesha
The 21-year-old joined from Swansea on an initial one-year contract in the summer. The Zambian international has mainly featured for U21s this season, only making 11 first-team appearances. Mainly featuring in cup competitions, Rushesha has played in various positions including central midfield and right back.
Rushesha, like Pereira, signed with the option of a further year which you would expect Reading to exercise. As a good option off the bench, and still developing in the academy set-up, it would make sense for Reading to keep him on for another year.
Kelvin Abrefa
A versatile right-sided player, Abrefa has also had limited minutes in the first team and has mainly been a ‘bench player’ for the past two seasons. In his eight cameos this season Abrefa looks like a threat going forward and has plenty of pace to recover and put in defensive work as well.
As another academy graduate, it would be nice to see Abrefa stick around and make his breakthrough into the first team as a potential replacement for Andy Yiadom.
Jayden Wareham
A local lad, Jayden Wareham returned to his boyhood club last summer on a one-year contract following his time on trial from Chelsea. Wareham has been given a couple of run-outs this season, three in League One and four in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy. Well-deserved cameos for the U21s top scorer, boasting nine goals and two assists in 15 appearances.
Michael Craig’s contract may also expire this summer, but no length of contract was specified when he signed for the club. Having made 33 appearances this season at just 20 years old, Craig is definitely someone who fans would hope to see in a Reading shirt next year.