Academy target Viktor Unnar Illugason ended any lingering speculation regarding his future on Friday by putting pen to paper on a three-year deal with Reading. The Icelandic striker agreed to join the Blues in April before changing his mind and deciding to become a Royal.

The 16-year-old said he is pleased with his deal at the Madejski Stadium and explained the reasons for his U-turn: "I am very happy with the contract.

“At first I had my heart set on joining Ipswich because they have such good training facilities for youngsters, but in the end I decided to join Reading because my best friend [Gylfi Sigurdsson] joined last year, while two other Icelandic internationals are at the club.”

Reading are likely to have paid a fee to Illugason's Icelandic club Breidablik with whom he had previously signed a professional contract.

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