Reading have completed the signing of Dean Bouzanis from Sutton United on a three-year contract, as announced on the club's website this afternoon.

The Australian goalkeeper follows Joe Lumley and Tom Ince through the door at the Select Car Leasing Stadium this summer after a very impressive campaign for the Amber and Chocolates.

Sutton put together an outstanding first ever season as an EFL club under Matt Gray, finishing eighth in the fourth tier and booking their place at Wembley in the final of the Papa John's Trophy.

Paul Ince shared his reaction to the addition of the 31-year-old when he spoke to the club's website.

He said: "Dean is a goalkeeper who I know will put his body on the line and throw everything into keeping the ball out of the net for this football club.

"He becomes part of what is now a solid-looking goalkeeping department, led by the hugely experienced Tony Warner, and I am confident he will be a real asset to the club this season and beyond."

The addition of Joe Lumley from Middlesbrough produced a mixed reception for the Royals' supporter base to say the least and it will be interesting to see who is first choice come the opening day of 2022/23.

The Verdict

 

 

A three-year contract for a 31-year-old who played in League Two last season in the Championship, would suggest that the Royals are happy to keep Bouzanis around as a backup goalkeeper for the foreseeable future.

The former Liverpool academy player will have ambitions far greater than that, and goalkeeper's do tend to peak later in their careers than outfield players, but it does seem unlikely that the Aussie was on many other Championship clubs' transfer shortlists this summer.

The Royals are at a disadvantage in their squad building this summer due to the financial constraints imposed on them, so any business they can get done before the season starts has to be seen as a positive, relative to what is possible.