Reading FC set to sign Portsmouth star Matt Ritchie | OneFootball

The Royals are set to bring in an experienced new signing to strengthen Noel Hunt's squad.

Reading have agreed a deal to sign experienced midfielder Matt Ritchie, who spent last season in the Championship with Portsmouth.

The Royals look set to sign the 35-year-old within the next 24 hours, which would mean he joins in time for their League One clash with Port Vale at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Saturday, as per journalist Mark McAdam via X.

Reading have had Ritchie on their radar for a number of weeks as they look to strengthen Noel Hunt's squad before the end of the summer transfer window, and now, following talks between the player and the club, a deal for him to join the Royals has reportedly been agreed.

Ritchie still has one year left on his contract at Fratton Park, so Portsmouth will need to sign off his move to Reading before it can be finalised, but the experienced midfielder is free to leave the club following discussions with Pompey boss John Mousinho earlier this summer.

Winger Paddy Lane joined Reading from Portsmouth last month, and it now looks as though Ritchie will follow in his footsteps by making the switch from the south coast to RG2.

Matt Ritchie set to join Reading

Matt Ritchie could prove to be a shrewd signing for Reading as they look to improve on their poor start to the 2025/26 League One season, given that he has spent more than a decade in the top two divisions of English football.

The last time the 35-year-old played in the third tier was for AFC Bournemouth during the 2012/13 campaign, as the Cherries won promotion to the Championship.

The former Newcastle United man has made 184 Premier League appearances during his career, while he has also played 162 games in the Championship, so he has plenty of experience to draw upon, which could be key for Reading this season.

Some supporters of the Royals may have concerns about Ritchie's ability to make an impact at this stage of his career, but they should take encouragement from the fact he made 39 league appearances for Pompey last term as they preserved their second tier status.

He scored important goals for Portsmouth in victories against Middlesbrough and Norwich last season, and he also captained the side on a number of occasions, so he should be able to bring an attacking threat from midfield, as well as leadership qualities, at League One level for Reading.

Matt Ritchie to join Reading in search of first-team football

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho spoke about Ritchie's departure from Fratton Park in July, and it was clear that the midfielder's desire to continue playing first-team football played a key role in him being allowed to leave the Championship club a year before his contract expired, as per BBC Sport.

"We had a conversation with Matt at the back end of last season about expectations around playing time," Mousinho said.

"It was a really grown-up chat about where he is at with his career and what I was willing or able to promise him this coming season.

"We shook hands and said that if he could find somewhere else that was going to guarantee him that [more game time] then that would be fine."

"Matt was a massive part of us staying in the Championship last year and I really enjoyed working with him.