Reading have completed and confirmed the signing of Fulham and Nigerian forward Sone Aluko on a four-year contract, in a deal believed to be worth about £7.5m.
The 28-year-old Nigeria international, who can play up front or on the wing, has moved to Madejski Stadium after just over a year at Craven Cottage afterjoining from Hull in 2016 summer.
An official statement by Reading reads: “Reading Football Club are delighted to announce that 28-year-old forward Sone Aluko has put pen to paper on a four-year deal at Madejski Stadium to complete a transfer from Fulham for an undisclosed fee.
Aluko, who proved a vital cog in Fulham’s charge intoa top six spot last season, completed his medical with the Royals on Tuesday and committed his futureto Jaap Stam’s side until 2021 by signing for the Royals this evening.
Younger brother to England Women star Eniola Aluko,Aluko could make his Royals debut in a Madejski Stadium fixture against Bristol City on Saturday 9th September – the first of two home games in four days for the Royals after the international break! He will take squad number 14.
Sonecame through the youth ranks at Birmingham City and was named on the bench as a 16-year old for a Premier League meeting with Arsenal at Highbury back in October 2005.
His full professional debut came north of theborderhowever,when he joined Aberdeen on loan. Aluko came off the bench for the Dons in a UEFA Cup clashagainst Panathinaikos in Greece before scoring in hisfirst league start for the club in a 2-0 home win over Dundee United.
His next goal came against the might of Bayern Munich as the Dons earned a 2-2 draw with the German giants at Pittodrie and he earned a permanent move to Aberdeen on transfer deadline day in 2008.
He scored nine goals in 82(+14) appearances with Aberdeen before signing for Rangers in 2011, where he scored 12 more in just 19 Scottish Premier Leaguestarts under Ally McCoist – including a hat-trick in a final day win at St Johnstone in his final appearance for the club.
The pacy forward edged back over the border to sign for Hull City in 2012 and he helped the Tigers achievepromotion to the Premier League in his first campaign on Humberside. Alongside Stephen Quinn and Paul McShane, he helped Hull reach the FA Cup Final in his second campaign in the north-east.
