Dutch youngster joins on loan

Reading have signed Chelsea’s highly-rated Nathan Ake on loan.20-year-old Nathan has played in the Champions League, Premier League, Europa League & FA Cup, and has more than 50 caps for Holland at youth level.Chelsea’s faith in his ability can be summed up by his new five-year contract last season, their award of the prestigious number 6 shirt and his Young Player of the Season award in 2013.Born in The Hague, he has captained the Netherlands right up to Under 21 level and has twice won the UEFA U17 Championships.He made his Premier League debut aged just 17, and can play in a number of positions: defensive midfield, left back or centre back.He will train with his new Reading teammates for the first time on Thursday. The initial loan is for one month, but can be extended.Manager Steve Clarke said, "I’m delighted to add a player of Nathan’s quality to our first team squad at this important time of the season. He has been a fixture in Chelsea's first team squad this season and we are grateful that Chelsea have allowed him to join us here at Reading to get some competitive minutes on the pitch. He is a very talented player who I have been aware of for some time and I look forward to working with Nathan in the coming weeks."Nathan has been a member of Chelsea’s first team squad for a number of seasons now, having first played for the Stamford Bridge side in the Premier League in December 2012. Later that season he started in a Europa League quarter final, and picked up a winners medal under Rafael Benitez in the same competition as an unused sub.He signed a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2013, and this season he made his Champions League debut under Jose Mourinho. He picked up another medal as an unused sub in the Blues’ Capital One Cup victory over Tottenham.Nathan is eligible for our next Sky Bet Championship game at home to Cardiff on Saturday 4th April, kick off 3pm. He is cup-tied having played ten minutes for Chelsea in their third round FA Cup win over Watford in January.The deal is subject to normal ratification by the football authorities, and his squad number will be confirmed in due course.