Charlton Athletic set to seal seven-figure Reading FC transfer deal following big Noel Hunt update | OneFootball

Charlton Athletic are reportedly closing in on the signing of Reading FC star Harvey Knibbs

Reading boss Noel Hunt has confirmed that sought-after attacker Harvey Knibbs is poised to seal a move away from the Select Car Leasing Stadium ahead of the 2025/26 League One campaign, having been linked to a clutch of Championship clubs following two stellar seasons in Berkshire including Charlton Athletic, whom he is now seemingly set to sign for.

The Addicks have been impressively active throughout this summer's transfer window after achieving promotion to the Championship via the League One play-offs in May, with a raft of additions being welcomed to Nathan Jones' side.

The popular Welshman has been backed in the market following the agreement of a fresh five-year deal to fend off interest from boyhood club Cardiff City, signing the likes of Rob Apter, Amari'i Bell, Reece Burke, Sonny Carey, Thomas Kaminski, Tanto Olaofe and, most recently, QPR forward Charlie Kelman - who scored 27 goals on loan for Leyton Orient last season, of course.

Charlton have not shied away from, to a relative degree, splashing the cash this summer in a bid to stave off relegation back to League One, and are now set to make yet another exciting acquisition in the form of Knibbs ahead of their season opener at home to Watford on August 9.

Charlton Athletic set to sign Reading FC star Harvey Knibbs after big Noel Hunt update

Knibbs has been linked with a number of Championship moves in recent times, having enjoyed two eye-catching campaigns at Reading following his switch from Cambridge United in the summer of 2023.

The likes of Charlton, Derby County, Portsmouth, Oxford United and Sheffield United have all been linked to the 26-year-old attacker, and a departure from the Royals is now imminent.

According to a report from Reading Today Online, Charlton have agreed a deal in the region of £1.8 million for Knibbs' services, which will see him become the club's ninth signing this summer.

Indeed, Knibbs has not featured for Reading at all in pre-season, with Royals boss Hunt confirming that the ex-Aston Villa prospect had withdrawn from the squad for yesterday's 4-0 home defeat to Portsmouth as he closes in on a move to a Championship club - which now appears to be Charlton.

When asked if Knibbs' absence was due to injury, Hunt explained: "No it wasn’t.

"There have been talks between us and another club and unfortunately we think it’s nearly done.

"They’ve come to an agreement so Harvey pulled himself out of the squad, which is his right but we’ll see what happens over the next 24 hours."

Reading FC's Harvey Knibbs is another exciting signing for Charlton Athletic

It's another impressive move by Charlton, who have turned heads with some of their transfer activity in recent weeks.

The addition of Knibbs, an attack-minded midfielder who has hit 16 goals and six assists apiece across all competitions in each of his two seasons with Reading, will only add to the increased wealth of personnel and firepower in the final third at Jones' disposal.

At 26, Knibbs has proven himself to perhaps be too good for League One. He's earned his right to step up to the Championship, make no mistake about that, and he could represent an inspired piece of business from the Addicks.