After a successful spell at Madejski Stadium last season, Reading Football Club are delighted to announce that central defender Matt Miazga has today penned a deal to rejoin the Royals on a season-long loan.

The USA international defender has now completed the paperwork on a deal which will commit the Chelsea man to spending the duration of the 2019-20 campaign as a Reading player.

Born in New Jersey, and beginning his pro career on home soil with New York Red Bulls, Miazga’s talents brought him to the attention of Chelsea, who lured him across the pond to Stamford Bridge as a 20-year-old in January 2016.

After making two appearances in the Premier League that season for the Blues, the following year the defender headed onto the continent to garner experience of regular competitive football.

Over the course of two seasons spent on loan with Dutch top tier side Vitesse Arnhem, Miazga made 72 appearances in all competitions and scored five goals, as well as helping the club to their first ever KNVB Cup title in 2017 with a 2-0 win against AZ in the final.

For the first half of last season, Miazga represented Nantes in the French top flight, playing eight times. After his loan stint at Stade de la Beaujoire came to an end in January, he swiftly made the move to Madejski Stadium to see out the rest of the 2018-19 campaign.

And he quickly became a pivotal part of José Gomes’ team. Across his 18 appearances in Reading colours, he established himself as a fans’ favourite with his athletic, intelligent and fearless style, helping to shore up the back-line and ultimately playing a vital role in maintaining our status in the Sky Bet Championship.

Over the summer, he was part of the USA squad which reached the CONCACAF Gold Cup final a fortnight ago, but his nation lost out to a Jonathan dos Santos strike as Mexico won 1-0 at Soldier Field, Chicago.

And now, three days after celebrating his 24th birthday, Miazga has put pen to paper on a contract which will see him reunited with the Royals.

Nigel Howe, CEO of Reading FC, said: “Even as a player at the early stage of his career, Matt showed last season that he has a mature head on young shoulders and plenty to offer the squad both on and off the pitch. I am pleased that he has been keen to return to Reading and I look forward to seeing his contribution for the Royals in the coming season.”