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Defender Clinton Mola and midfielder Sam Hutchinson are among four players released by Reading after the 2023-24 season.

Left-backs Nesta Guinness-Walker and Matty Carson are also not staying with the League One club.

Reading have opened talks with defender Kelvin Abrefa and midfielder Tivonge Rushesha over new contract offers to stay.

Mola made 36 appearances in all competitions this season after joining as a free agent last September.

Hutchinson joined Reading in the summer of 2022 but injuries have limited him to only 26 games across the last two campaigns.

The Royals have activated one-year extensions on contracts for Femi Azeez and Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan - who both scored nine goals this campaign - as well as Michael Craig, Jeriel Dorsett, Joel Pereira and Jayden Wareham.

Reading finished the 2023-24 season 17th in the League One table.

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Reading say the club has entered talks with new bidders after failing to agree a sale with their preferred buyer.

The Royals entered a period of exclusivity with an unnamed party in March after owner Dai Yongge committed to a letter of intent.

BBC Radio Berkshire revealed that period had lapsed on 22 May and the club has today confirmed it is speaking to new potential suitors, as well as the party that previously had exclusivity.

The club said Mr Dai aimed to complete the sale "at the earliest opportunity" in a statement on its website., external

The Royals finished the League One season safe in 17th place despite Ruben Selles' side having six points deducted for financial breaches.

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Reading defender Kelvin Abrefa has signed a new two-year deal with the League One club.

The right-back has been at the Royals since 2017 and made 13 appearances in all competitions last season.

"We’re delighted to secure Kelvin to a new two-year contract," said head of football operations Mark Bowen.

"There was, understandably, plenty of external interest in him so we’re very happy that Kelvin's chosen to continue his development as a Reading Player.”

Royals fan group wants 'commitment' to women's team

The Royals will begin their upcoming League One campaign away to Birmingham City on 10 August.

They still remain in discussions with multiple interested buyers as they look to complete the sale of the club to a new ownership.

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The attempted takeover of Reading by former Wycombe Wanderers owner Rob Couhig has fallen through after a breakdown in negotiations.

American lawyer and businessman Couhig had a long period of exclusivity with the League One club's current owner Dai Yongge but was unable to finalise an agreement.

A club statement said "alternative options" would now be pursued.

"Mr Dai remains committed to the sale of Reading Football Club and provisions are in place to fund the club until a transaction is completed," the statement continued.

"The club acknowledges and appreciates the financial support provided by the potential purchaser during recent months. All loans have now been paid back to the potential purchaser in full along with the accrued interest."

BBC Radio Berkshire understands money received from a sell-on clause in the contract of former player Michael Olise, who joined Bayern Munich in the summer, is helping to keep the club financially stable for now.

Reading's recent financial difficulties under Yongge meant the club's women's side - a Women's Super League outfit as recently as May 2023 - had to withdraw from the Championship in June, and they will start next season in the fifth tier.

The club were also docked six points for financial issues last season as they finished 17th in League One.

The Royals are currently 12th in England's third tier after five games, picking up two wins, two defeats and a draw.

Reading head coach Ruben Selles said he expected the takeover of the club to be completed "months ago."

Years of turmoil under Yongge
Yongge and his sister Dai Xiu Li completed their takeover of Reading in May 2017 shortly before the club lost the Championship play-off final on penalties to Huddersfield Town.

That proved to be the high point of their time in charge of the Royals.

A seventh-placed finish in the 2020-21 season was Reading's only top-half league finish under Yongge as financial problems began to bite.

They were first deducted six points by the English Football League for breaching profit and sustainability rules in November 2021.

A further six-point penalty followed in April 2023 for failing to comply with the terms of an agreed business plan for the previous breach, contributing to their relegation from the Championship at the end of that season.

The club were placed under a series of transfer embargoes, and were deducted another six points last season for a combination of failing to pay wages and a tax bill on time.

In total, Reading have been deducted 18 points under Yongge's ownership.

Fans carried out a series of protests last season, including throwing tennis balls on to the pitch at games, and their home game against Port Vale in January was abandoned after hundreds of fans invaded the pitch.

The club's financial problems led to Yongge putting the club up for sale, which also impacted the women's side, who finished 10th out of 12 teams in the Championship last season.

In announcing the women's team's withdrawal from the second tier, Reading said that maintaining the side's status was "just not possible without significant owner funding".

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Reading have entered into a new period of exclusivity with an unnamed buyer - on the same day the club has been handed a fresh transfer embargo by the English Football League.

The stricken League One club has suffered from fines, points deductions and fan protests during Dai Yongge's tumultuous reign as owner and had a previous transfer ban lifted in August 2023.

In a statement on the club's website,, external Reading said the new embargo was due to "the late filing of financial accounts to Companies House, and relates to the 2022-23 accounting period".

Reading added they believed the embargo would be lifted once the overdue accounts are finalised, which they hoped would happen "at the earliest opportunity".

The Royals were relegated to League One in 2022-23 and have been deducted 18 points overall during Chinese businessman Dai's tenure as owner.

A deal for former Wycombe Wanderers owner Rob Couhig to buy the club fell through last month after an agreement could not be reached.

"The club can confirm it has agreed to a period of exclusivity with a potential purchaser," the statement added.

"Both parties are working hard to finalise terms with the intention to complete a sale at the earliest opportunity.

"This exclusivity period also includes further provision to fund the club until the transaction's intended completion.

"The proposed sale will include Mr Dai's shareholding in Reading Football Club Limited, as well as the Select Car Leasing Stadium and Bearwood Park Training Ground.".

That proved to be the high point of their time in charge of the Royals.

A seventh-placed finish in the 2020-21 season was Reading's only top-half league finish under Yongge as financial problems began to bite.

Supporters carried out a series of protests last season and the home game against Port Vale in January was abandoned after hundreds of fans invaded the pitch.

The club's financial problems led to Yongge putting the club up for sale, which also impacted the women's side, who finished 10th out of 12 teams in the Championship last season.

Ex-Wycombe owner Couhig's unsuccessful attempt to purchase the club ended last month.

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League One side Reading have re-signed Wolves winger Chem Campbell on loan for the rest of the season after his initial agreement expired last Sunday.

Campbell, 22, has contributed five goals and four assists in 22 appearances since joining the Royals on 30 August.

"He has really grown into the season and has become an important part of our team," manager Noel Hunt told the club website, external.

"He's a great kid, first and foremost, and he wants to learn, work and improve.

"They're the kind of people you want in this football club - the type of people who want to improve not just themselves, but the team too."


Director of recruitment Brian Carey was involved in contacting the English Football League to confirm that the club was able to pursue Campbell despite operating under a transfer embargo since October.

Injury ruled Campbell out of Reading's 0-0 draw at Charlton last Saturday, although Hunt said afterwards that a scan on the issue "didn't look too bad".

Campbell's eight appearances for Wolves have included six in the Premier League, and two of his goals this season came inside the space of four minutes during extra time in Reading's 5-3 home win over non-league Market Harborough in the FA Cup second round on 1 December.

The sixth-placed side in the third tier host Championship promotion contenders Burnley in the third round on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

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Reading have signed winger Billy Bodin on loan from fellow League One side Burton Albion for the rest of the season.

The experienced 32-year-old has previously played for Bristol Rovers, Preston North End and Oxford United.

Across his senior career he has made 350 league appearances and has 73 goals to his name.

"I'm really pleased to bring Billy into the squad for the rest of the season," Royals manager Noel Hunt told the club website., external

"He's an experienced player who knows this league well and has proven his quality over the years.

"He'll give us another attacking option, with his work rate, creativity and his eye for goal will be a real asset to the team. We're looking forward to working with him."

Billy is the son of Paul Bodin, the former Reading player who made 41 appearances for the Royals between 1996 and 1998.

This season he has made 12 league appearances, scoring four goals for Burton in League One.

Meanwhile, the Royals have agreed a deal with Nottingham Forest for the Premier League side to sign defender Tyler Bindon.

The 20-year-old will be loaned back to Reading for the remainder of this season.

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A proposed takeover of Reading Football Club is in doubt.

A statement released by the League One side said a period of exclusivity with an unnamed group has expired.

Reading owner Dai Yongge has been trying to sell the financially troubled club for some time, and the Royals remain under a transfer embargo for the late filing of accounts.

The club has suffered from fines, points deductions and fan protests during Yongge's tumultuous reign as owner and had a previous transfer ban lifted in August 2023.

Former Wycombe Wanderers owner Rob Couhig and ex-Reading chairman Roger Smee both had bids for the club turned down last year.

"Discussions with alternatives are underway with the focus remaining to sell to a buyer who has the intent and resource to take the club forward," a statement on the club website read.

"Several credible bidders have declared interest, some with experience in navigating football transactions, and the club are working with all relevant stakeholders to agree terms at the earliest opportunity.

"Whilst the club acknowledges the previously failed transactions are disappointing for everyone, especially our supporters, it is anticipated the legal and due diligence work completed so far will prove advantageous when trying to move new bids forward."

The club says that despite ongoing funding concerns, wages and payments to His Majesty's Revenue and Customs were paid on time with Yongge contributing funds towards them.

The club sold striker Sam Smith for a fee believed to be in excess of £1m to Wrexham earlier this week, while Tyler Bindon moved to Premier League side Nottingham Forest earlier in January before being loaned back to the Royals.

The club says the sales were not "pre-planned as an opportunity to solve the club's short-term funding".

"In the case of Sam Smith, having previously rejected lower bids, the fee payable by Wrexham ultimately proved too significant.

"Whilst the club was not looking to sell, there was a requirement to balance this versus the short-term financial security such a large fee would provide.

"For Tyler Bindon, the expiration of his contract at the end of this season led to significant external interest.

"The club's priority from the outset was to keep Tyler for the remainder of this campaign given his importance to the first team squad.

"However, an attractive proposal from Nottingham Forest presented an opportunity for the club to benefit financially, as well as retaining Tyler's short-term services.

"Despite several clubs making offers for other players, none were deemed proceedable as the club aimed to maintain the strength of the playing squad."

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Reading are in talks with a potential buyer to finally put an end to the protracted takeover saga at the League One club.

This is the latest in a series of "periods of exclusivity" the Royals have had, but the others have fallen through.

Reading say they are optimistic the deal can be completed quickly and it would be "for the benefit of all concerned".

The unnamed party are in talks to purchase owner Dai Yongge's shareholding in the club, as well as the Select Car Leasing Stadium and the Bearwood Park Training Facility in Wokingham.

In the past few years fans have endured relegation to the third tier, points deductions and transfer embargoes during Chinese businessman Dai's near eight-year period of ownership.

On Friday, MP Yuan Yang, who represents Earley and Woodley, joined supporters in calling for an inquiry into the ownership, which has seen protests in Westminster and at home matches.

A statement on the club's website, external said they had "committed to a letter of intent with a potential purchaser of the club".

"Whilst we understand our supporters' wish to know the purchaser's identity, at this stage, confidentiality is preferred to complete at the earliest opportunity," the statement said.

"The club can confirm the agreed sale includes the transfer of Mr Dai's shareholding in The Reading Football Club Limited, as well as the Select Car Leasing Stadium and Bearwood Park Training Facility."

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Reading have offered new deals to 11 out-of-contract first-team players to extend their stay at the SCL Stadium.

The Royals have also released six senior players, meaning the club only has six first-teamers currently under contract.

New owner Rob Couhig completed his takeover of the club this week, just days after Reading missed out on a place in the League One play-offs.

The players currently under contract in Noel Hunt's squad are Kelvin Abrefa, Ben Elliott, Harvey Knibbs, Charlie Savage and Lewis Wing, while Reading have activated a one-year extension option for Mamadi Camara.

The 11 players offered new deals are Michael Craig, Jeriel Dorsett, Kelvin Ehibatiomhan, Abraham Kanu, Amadou Mbengue, Joel Pereira, Tivonge Rushesha, Michael Stickland, Basil Tuma, Jayden Wareham and Andy Yiadom.

Meanwhile, Adrian Akande, Coniah Boyce-Clarke, David Button, Tom Carroll, Harlee Dean and Louie Holzman have been released.

Securing out-of-contract players 'essential' - analysis
BBC Radio Berkshire's Reading commentator Tim Dellor:

It says everything you need to know about the previous owner's shambolic tenure that only six senior first-team players remain under contract into next season.

The negotiations with players whose contracts are expiring this summer are all the more important.

From 33-year-old club captain Andy Yiadom to 19-year-old Abraham Kanu, and everyone in between, securing their services is essential if the momentum gathered on the pitch under Noel Hunt is to continue into next season.

Fans will be especially keen to see favourites Amadou Mbengue and Joel Pereira sign on.

Eleven first-team players are now negotiating with the club, which makes it a busy few weeks for chairman Rob Couhig, the club management, and player agents.

Having run their contracts down, some players may be eyeing up the opportunity to move on, and with it pocket a hefty signing-on fee.

With the renewed optimism around the place though, they might just regret turning their back on Reading next season.

Leaving now may be akin to furiously cooking and cleaning for days ahead of a house party, but then going out just as the first guests arrive, leaving them to have the fun without you.

Just ask ex-manager Ruben Selles.

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Reading midfielder Lewis Wing has signed a new three-year deal to remain with the League One club until 2028.

The 30-year-old, who began his career with Middlesbrough, joined the Royals in 2023 from Wycombe and has made 99 appearances for the club in all competitions.

Wing played every minute in the league for Reading this season, racking up 50 appearances and scoring 11 goals as they narrowly missed out on a play-off spot.

"We are delighted Lewis has agreed to extend his contract with us as he is an essential part of our plans for next season," chief executive Joe Jacobson said., external

"Lewis is a top performer at this level and above, and I know the positive impact he has in the dressing room, stepping up to become a real leader in recent years.

"So it was important for us to extend his stay as we look to build a highly competitive squad, not just for this season but the future."