MORRO STAYS AS FOUR ARE RELEASED
READING FC has exercised a clause in Michael Morrison’s contract to keep him at the club until 2022.
Morrison, 33, has played a vital role in the heart of the Royals defence since joining on a free transfer from Birmingham City in 2019.
He made 35 Championship appearances last season, scoring four goals, but missed the crucial end of the campaign as the Royals missed out on the play-offs.
Goalkeeper Luke Southwood has also signed a new contract with Reading FC until 2023.
Southwood, 23, graduated from the Royals academy and has played back-up to first-choice goalkeeper Rafael Cabral in the Reading first-team this season.
He was handed his first appearance for the first-team earlier in the season in Reading’s Carabao Cup win over Colchester United, and went on to make two more cup appearances in the 2020/21 season, both of which were against
Luton Town.
He was then handed his league debut on the final day of the season at home against Huddersfield Town.
“Luke is a fantastic character. A very talented keeper and a patient and positive influence within the first team group who I know will always give his best in every session at Bearwood or in any game he plays,” said Reading manager Veljko Paunović.
“A child of this club, he fully deserves this new contract at Reading and I am sure he will grasp this opportunity to challenge for the goalkeeper shirt next season.”
Chief Executive Dayong Pang added: “I am very pleased that Luke has signed this new deal at the club and, as one of nine Academy graduates to make their first team debut this season, he represents more proof of the success of our investment in youth and the time and effort that goes into the development of young talent at Reading Football Club.”
Meanwhile, four first-team players have been released by the club after the expirations of their contracts.
Striker Sam Baldock, forward Sone Aluko, goalkeeper Sam Walker and defender Tennai Watson have all left the club.
Alfa Semedo, Tomas Esteves and Lewis Gibson will all also return to their parent clubs after respective loan spells with the Royals for the 2020/21 season.
The club has also confirmed that they have offered new deals to Tom McIntyre and Omar Richards, with their contracts set to expire next month.
However, it is believed that Richards has already signed a precontract agreement to join
Bayern Munich.
Amongst the Under-23s group, the club have offered new deals to striker Thierry Nevers, goalkeeper James Holden and forward Femi Azeez, while left-back Ethan Bristow remains at the club after a clause in his current contract was mutually triggered.
Ryan East, Conor Lawless, Olly Pendlebury, Jayden Onen and Sam Smith have all previously featured for our first team but will seek a new challenge away from the club next season, while Joseph Ajose, Josh Hewitt, Omri Luzon and Augustus McGiff have also been released.