The transfer of Leandro Bacuna to Reading was finalised on Sunday afternoon – making him the latest player to join Jaap Stam’s side as our squad takes shape for the season ahead.

And the 25-year-old, who spent four years with Aston Villa after moving from hometown club FC Groningen, was happy to get the deal done and to be able to look ahead to a new chapter in his career.

“I’m very happy – I think it’s going to be a different step for me, and I’m delighted to get going,” Bacuna said. “There have been a few ups and downs but in the end we got it over the line.

“It’s a really nice step to try and come here to play for Jaap Stam as well. I’m really delighted and I’m really happy that I can start this new journey, to be honest.

“Reading try to play from the back and they’re really patient. I think that will suit me and it will suit the players, I’ll try and do my best to help the team and try to get some wins.”

While his teammates will all be new, there are some familiar faces for Bacuna in the Royals squad from time spent in the Netherlands.

He hopes to forge some good relationships on the pitch with his new colleagues, in pursuit of another successful season.

“I haven’t yet played with any of these guys, but I’ve played against some of them,” Leandro continued. “I’ve played in the Dutch league, so I’ve played against Joey van den Berg and Roy Beerens. It’s nice to play with them now and we can get going.

“And the way Reading play football at the moment, teams are frightened, they come here and try and defend. It gives us as a team a bit more patience, and with these kind of games if you win them then you can get going again.”

Sign into iFollow and watch the first interview with Bacuna at the top of the page – where he also discusses his views on our meeting with Fulham on Saturday, a successful summer with the Curaçao national team, and hopes of facing his former employers!