Centre-half commits his future to the Royals

Reading Football Club are delighted to announce that centre-backhas put pen to paper on a brand new three-year contract with the Royals.Despite only signing a new deal last summer, the club have acted swiftly to tie a burgeoning young defensive talent to a longer-term contract at Madejski Stadium - Hector committing his future to the Royals until the summer of 2018 by putting pen to paper this weekend.The 22-year-old defender made 48(+1) appearances for Reading last season, scoring three times in total including our second in the 3-0 win at Derby County on the final day of the 2014-15 campaign.Playing a vital role in the club’s historic run to the FA Cup semi-final, Hector remained a powerful and unflappable presence at the back throughout his first full season as a first team regular – and the Reading fans recognised his contribution to the team by voting the versatile centre-half into their top three in the ‘Player of the Season’ award."It’s a really positive step for me to sign another deal at Reading and to know that you’re wanted by the manager and the club, it's a great feeling," Hector said. "This is a proud moment for me and my family."I want to play week in, week out in the Championship again next season and hopefully I can do well and, as a team, we can improve on last year. That's the aim"Manager Steve Clarke said, "Since I came to the club in December 2014, Michael's performances have improved almost from game to game. For a young defender to show such consistency of performance is great to see."However it was his work day in, day out on the training ground that impressed me the most and has shown me that Michael can have a big future in the game. This contract is a reward for the improvement shown and I'm looking forward to working with Michael in the coming season when, hopefully, he will continue on the same path."Hector first joined the Royals back in 2009 and embarked on a series of loan spells at Dundalk, Barnet, Shrewsbury, Aldershot, Cheltenham and Aberdeen before making his Reading bow in our 7-1 thrashing of Bolton Wanderers in January 2014.The 6’4” defender made two further substitute appearances before his full debut came in a 1-1 draw at Brighton that same season. Since then, the young Royals star has gone from strength to strength.His assured displays and consistent level of performance at the heart of the club’s back four have now earned him international recognition with Jamaica – for whom he is eligible to play through his family heritage.Hector will join teammate Garath McCleary on a flight to South America later this week as he jets off to take part in the Copa America in Chile. The as yet uncapped Hector’s Reggae Boyz have been drawn alongside Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay in the competition, before Winfried Schafer’s side go on to take part in the CONCAF Gold Cup tournament in the USA later this summer.