DAVID MEYLER’S SEARCH for a new employer didn’t last long, after the Ireland midfielder was snapped up by Reading following his difficult departure from Hull City at the end of last season.
Meyler was with Hull for five-and-a-half years but recently announced he would be leaving the Championship club this summer after they failed to show him ‘the respect I deserved’ in contract negotiations.
The Cork native waited until after last week’s international friendlies against France and USA before deciding on his future, with Meyler today signing a two-year contract — which includes the option for a third year — with Reading.
The paperwork for his move to the Madejski Stadium will be finalised once Meyler’s contract with Hull expires at the end of June, but it’s clear the Royals are very happy to acquire his services.
“David comes here with a lot of experience at this level but also the level above and with his ability and his leadership qualities, he is going to add a lot to our squad,” Reading manager Paul Clement said.
“At the end of last season, I felt it was important to bring in a player of David’s profile. And when I met with him, I got a real sense of his ambition to play at the highest level again. And, together, we’ll be fighting to push this club forward.”
Meyler made 181 appearances for Hull during his time at the KC Stadium and became a regular in their side, helping the club to two Premier League promotions as well as an FA Cup final appearance.
The 29-year-old, who becomes Reading’s second signing of the close season after defender Andy Yiadom, joins fellow Ireland international Paul McShane on the books at the club, while Ireland U21 midfielder Liam Kelly made 34 league appearances last season.
Reading endured a disappointing season last term, finishing just three points clear of the relegation zone and sacked manager Japp Stam in March, replacing him with former Derby and Swansea boss Clement.
Meyler didn’t feature during Ireland’s win over USA at the Aviva Stadium last Saturday, but played 31 minutes of the defeat to France in the first of Martin O’Neill’s side’s summer friendlies.
Overall, he has won 20 international caps after making his debut against Oman back in September 2012 and will look to help Reading push for promotion under Clement next season.
He said: “I’m delighted and I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead. As I said previously, I was looking for ambition and I spoke to the manager — he lined that out for me and I want to get this club promoted.
“We spoke about the way he wants to play, what he wants to do and where he thinks this club should be. The focus is to get back to the Premier League and that’s what I’m here to do.
“I’m committed — I give 100% to everything I do. I’m coming here to get back to the Premier League and win promotion. That’s my aim, that’s the manager’s aim and that’s what I want to do.”
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Unbelievable how they are unable to transfer any of their incredible success at Minor Level to Senior level, their record at Minor level is off the wall. This is a county that had never won a Minor Championship until 1983, now I think that is their 14th title, where do all these players disappear to?
@The Firestarter: Beertown
@The Firestarter: straight into all Ireland semi final for majority of those years. Not battle hardened?
@The Firestarter: The seniors have been in 6 all Ireland finals since the turn of the millennium so the players haven’t disappeared. Mayo footballers have zero all Irelands in that time but no one would argue that they haven’t been one of the best football teams in the country over the last 20 years.
Well done to our young lads . Making history again .
@Finnster:Just wondering how ye made history again with minors?
@Declan Lacey: Well 3 in a row was history previously for Galway Minor hurling when they became only one of two counties in Ireland the other being Cork back in the 70′s to achieve it.
Also on a side note as the new U20 All Ireland football championship is not that old I think Galway are also the only county to hold it and the minor Hurling Championship at the same time as they defeated Dublin in the final.
@Declan Lacey: read the article , the clues are there
@Declan Lacey:
Probably the most successful minor hurling team of each decade by number of All-Ireland Minor Hurling titles
2000s: 4 for Galway (2000-04-05-09)
2010s: 5 for Galway (2011-15-17-18-19)
Jesus the ref did his best for kilkenny to win it. Great win tonight
Congrats to a fine young Galway team. A lot of senior teams would want take note of that game today. All skills of game on show and no diving or pussyfooting about.
@Mervyn Queally: none of that Limerick Bish bash bosh stuff
@Mervyn Queally: have to agree, he gave a penalty to Kilkenny rightly so , shortly afterwards a Galway forward was taken down in the same fashion, nothing given. With a couple of minutes left a Galway forward was taken out, if the tackle was made in rugby it would be yellow or red card. The referee threw in the ball.
Great achievement! well done to the the tribesmen braves.
1 senior all Ireland since 88, what goes wrong in the west. Serious talent.
@Kevin Shortall: is that a congratulations you were trying to say there in a Kilkenny kind of way
@Kevin Shortall: 3 since 86 though and lost 6 all-ireland finals since then. Not bad for a traditionally football county.