RINOMHOTA DEPARTS TO JOIN BLUEBIRDS
ANDY Rinomohta has finalised a move away from Reading FC to join Cardiff City on a free transfer.
The 25-year-old’s contract with the Royals is due to expire at the end of the month, while he has signed a deal with fellow Championship rivals Cardiff.
Rinomhota has been a target this transfer window for QPR, Bristol City and Stoke City but the Bluebirds won the race for his signature
It has already been a difficult start to the summer for Reading who have lost John Swift to West Bromwich Albion and Josh Laurent to Stoke City, both on free transfers after their contracts were up this month.
After joining the Reading academy from AFC Portchester in 2015, Rinomhota made his firstteam debut in August 2017 against Gillingham in the EFL Cup.
He has become the heartbeat of the team in central midfield after breaking into the teamand has made a total of 125 Championship appearances for the club.
He was named as the club’s player of the season at the end of the 2018/19 season after making 26 league appearances and scoring once in his breakthrough year.
Rinomhota missed a large period of last season with injury but did play a crucial part in helping the team survive relegation under
Paul Ince as he totted up 20 league games last year.
Rinomhota said: “It’s never easy saying goodbye, especially to a club which has been so close to my heart for the last seven years.
“I came here as a boy and I leave as a man and I have loved every minute of it.
“I would be here all day if I tried to thank every individual person who has had a positive impact on me during my time here but from the roots of my heart, I’d like to thank every player I ever shared the pitch in the blue and white with, every manager who gave me the opportunity to wear the shirt from the under 23’s to the firstteam, every coach who ever worked with me and every member of staff who was ever involved in the club whilst I was here.
“My gratitude to you all can not be put in to words. Thank you Reading. Until we meet again.”