The Royals have completed the Club record signing of 23-year-old Ivory Coast international midfielder Emerse Fae from French club Nantes.

The initial fee is in the region of £2.5m with additional payments due depending on appearances, and he has signed a three year contract with an option on a fourth year.

Fae has made more than 100 appearances for Nantes and was a member of the French Youth World Championship winning side in 2001, as well as playing for their under 21s.

He later switched national allegiances to the Ivory Coast and was a member of their 2006 World Cup Finals squad.

Chairman John Madejski told readingfc.co.uk, "This is a very important signing and I am delighted to welcome Emerse to Reading Football Club.

"He joins us at a very exciting time as we prepare for our second season in the Premier League, and we are confident that he will prove to be a very good signing.

"We have been focused and selective with our transfer activities this summer, and Emerse is a player we have been interested in for a long time so it is very rewarding that our patience has borne fruit."

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