O’Shea leaves to join Reading with Meyler

JOHN O’Shea’s seven-year stay at Sunderland is over after he agreed a 12-month contract with Championship Reading as expected.

The 37-year-old was one of three Bosman signings the Royals announced on Wednesday, with former Black Cats midfielder David Meyler another.

His new manager Paul Clement said O’Shea’s appearance record at the Stadium of Light last season was a big factor.

“We looked very carefully at John’s recent playing statistics and he played a total of 40 games for Sunderland last season,” he told Reading’s official website. “He is still incredibly fit and a hugely motivated individual. So we look forward to him being a big contributor out on the pitch next season.”

O’Shea signed a one-year contract extension at Sunderland last season, but there had been no talks about a renewal after the club was relegated for a second consecutive season.

By no means the first the Black Cats manager to attempt it, Simon Grayson tried to dislodge O’Shea at the start of 2017-18, not handing him his first Championship start until the final match of September despite the centre-back being available throughout. But once the club captain was in the team he became impossible to remove – a comment on the squad as well as him.

O’Shea made his Manchester United debut in 1999 and went on to win five Premier League titles, along with a host of other medals, at Old Trafford before moving to Wearside in 2011.

He was involved in a relegation battle in every season at Sunderland, losing the last two, but his professionalism was always highly spoken of by his managers.

O’Shea retired from international football last week after 118 Republic of Ireland caps.

“There are not many footballers, past or present, who possess the experience of John O’Shea,” commented Reading chief executive Ron Gourlay. “A natural leader, he arrives at Reading as one of the most decorated Irish footballers of all time, having won everything and experienced even more during a career spent almost entirely in the top tier and in European and international football.

“I am delighted John has chosen to join Reading.”