Squad for 2025-2026

[Brogue]

Fraser confirmed! I'd say that's defence and midfield sorted. Get Bowler and Kelvin done and we're fine. Maybe an extra loan or two around deadline day, but we can manage a month.

And who precisely do we play up front?

[WestYorksRoyal]

Fraser confirmed! I'd say that's defence and midfield sorted. Get Bowler and Kelvin done and we're fine. Maybe an extra loan or two around deadline day, but we can manage a month.

And who precisely do we play up front?

O'Mahony.

[Hound]

Fraser confirmed! I'd say that's defence and midfield sorted. Get Bowler and Kelvin done and we're fine. Maybe an extra loan or two around deadline day, but we can manage a month.

And who precisely do we play up front?

You normally tell us Brogue

[Sutekh]

Revised list, including WiFi, given both player and manager have said he’s signed

Name - Contract Expiry

5 GOALKEEPERS

Tom NORCOTT - 2026
Joel PEREIRA - 2028
Matthew ROWLEY - 2026
Jack STEVENS - 2027
Josh WELLAND - 2027

6 RIGHT BACKS

Kelvin ABREFA - 2026
Ashqar AHMED - 2027
Boyd BEACROFT - 2026
Emmanuel OSHO - 2026
Tivonge RUSHESHA - 2026 - also defensive midfielder
Andy YIADOM - 2026 - also centre back

4 LEFT BACKS

John CLARKE - 2026
Andre GARCIA - 2026 - also attacking midfielder
Matty JACOB - 2026 - on loan from Hull City
John RYAN - 2026

6 CENTRE BACKS

Finley BURNS - 2026 - on loan from Manchester City
Jeriel DORSETT - 2026
Philip DUAH - 2026
Abraham KANU - 2026
Paudie O’CONNOR - 2029
Michael STICKLAND - 2026 (+1 year option)

Sam HARRISON - 2026 (Sam is listed everywhere as just a Defender).

5 CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS

Joseph BAROUGH - 2026
Ben ELLIOTT - 2026
Luke HOWARD - 2026
Charlie SAVAGE - 2027
Lewis WING - 2028

3 DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS

Liam FRASER - 2027
Jacob HAMMOND-CHAMBERS-BORGNIS - 2026
Shay SPENCER - 2026

7 ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS

Carter-Blue BOWDERY - 2026
Mamadi CAMARA - 2026
Kelvin EHIBHATIOMHAN - (contract length TBC)
Harvey KNIBBS - 2026
Daniel KYEREWAA - 2027
Jeremiah OKINE-PETERS - 2026
Tyler SACKEY - 2026 - also defensive midfielder

2 STRIKERS

Mark O’MAHONEY - 2026 - on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion
Basil TUMA - 2026

Considered as 1st team squad

[linkenholtroyal]

Fraser confirmed! I'd say that's defence and midfield sorted. Get Bowler and Kelvin done and we're fine. Maybe an extra loan or two around deadline day, but we can manage a month.

And who precisely do we play up front?

Completely agree, when you play one up front, you ideally need 3 options for rotation and injury cover. Even if Kelvin has signed he has been used as a winger. Devante Cole is more utility across the front 3 and a striker option. Either way we need 2 more up front and a winger. Happy with the rest if Knibbles stays.

[linkenholtroyal]

Fraser confirmed! I'd say that's defence and midfield sorted. Get Bowler and Kelvin done and we're fine. Maybe an extra loan or two around deadline day, but we can manage a month.

And who precisely do we play up front?

Completely agree, when you play one up front, you ideally need 3 options for rotation and injury cover. Even if Kelvin has signed he has been used as a winger. Devante Cole is more utility across the front 3 and a striker option. Either way we need 2 more up front and a winger. Happy with the rest if Knibbles stays.

Now I have said that as being the Reading way we will probably sign 2 goalkeepers and a right back.

[Sutekh]

Mick Gooding says you can never have too many strikers or centre backs.

[Brogue]

Mick Gooding says, listen, you can never have too many strikers or centre backs.

Changed for you.

[rightroyalkneesup2]

Mick Gooding says, listen, you can never have too many strikers or centre backs.

Changed for you.

Literally

[Linden Jones' Tash]

Notwithstanding the Knibbs rumour - even if he stays & Kelvin E is confirmed, we have lost a lot of goals since this time last year.

If the new owners are serious about making a profit in a short time span (~3 years), then we need at least 2 additional goalscoring forwards IMHO...

If we lose the two above, then they need replacing goals wise

[Royalwaster]

Notwithstanding the Knibbs rumour - even if he stays & Kelvin E is confirmed, we have lost a lot of goals since this time last year.

If the new owners are serious about making a profit in a short time span (~3 years), then we need at least 2 additional goalscoring forwards IMHO...

If we lose the two above, then they need replacing goals wise

As Kelvin only scored 3 goals he should be pretty easy to replace ... but I'm sure if they both leave, replacements will be lined up.

[Snowflake Royal]

Notwithstanding the Knibbs rumour - even if he stays & Kelvin E is confirmed, we have lost a lot of goals since this time last year.

If the new owners are serious about making a profit in a short time span (~3 years), then we need at least 2 additional goalscoring forwards IMHO...

If we lose the two above, then they need replacing goals wise

We haven't really though, have we...

Smith would get around 15 a season, but the rest were a few here or there players.

Our topscorers were Knibbs 14, Smith 11, Wing 9.

After them it was Savage, Campbell and Wareham on 5.

Kelvin should absolutely be chipping in with more at this point in his career. O'Mahoney should be replacing a fair few of Smiths.

[Sutekh]

For all we know we might have those goals already though, just don’t know until a few games in. Someone like Cole though would be a godsend and should ease the pressure on the others.

[traff]

Reading between the lines in the latest interview with Noel, it seems increasingly likely that Knibbs will be on his way out, it’s just a matter of securing the right fee. Hopefully, that won't drag on until September, but if it does, he needs to be available to play in the meantime.

Noel also mentioned we can expect one or two more signings before the season kicks off. With quality strikers as rare as hens’ teeth, we might have to wait until the end of the transfer window to strengthen up front, possibly through a late loan deal.

Goals might be hard to come by in the early weeks, but with any luck, we’ll build momentum as the season progresses.

[Stranded]

Reading between the lines in the latest interview with Noel, it seems increasingly likely that Knibbs will be on his way out, it’s just a matter of securing the right fee. Hopefully, that won't drag on until September, but if it does, he needs to be available to play in the meantime.

Noel also mentioned we can expect one or two more signings before the season kicks off. With quality strikers as rare as hens’ teeth, we might have to wait until the end of the transfer window to strengthen up front, possibly through a late loan deal.

Goals might be hard to come by in the early weeks, but with any luck, we’ll build momentum as the season progresses.

His phrasing was intresting in that he said something like we hoped to have another 2 in yesterday - so deals must be close to completing but they expected 2 in by next week. Be interesting* to know what the delay is there, if those deals are still live or if we are going in a different direction.

I liked his thought process at looking at players in divisions outside England that are at or above L1 level and finding jewels there - MLS for example.

[Sutekh]

Reading between the lines in the latest interview with Noel, it seems increasingly likely that Knibbs will be on his way out, it’s just a matter of securing the right fee. Hopefully, that won't drag on until September, but if it does, he needs to be available to play in the meantime.

Noel also mentioned we can expect one or two more signings before the season kicks off. With quality strikers as rare as hens’ teeth, we might have to wait until the end of the transfer window to strengthen up front, possibly through a late loan deal.

Goals might be hard to come by in the early weeks, but with any luck, we’ll build momentum as the season progresses.

His phrasing was intresting in that he said something like we hoped to have another 2 in yesterday - so deals must be close to completing but they expected 2 in by next week. Be interesting* to know what the delay is there, if those deals are still live or if we are going in a different direction.

I liked his thought process at looking at players in divisions outside England that are at or above L1 level and finding jewels there - MLS for example.

Trouble is the club only gets two ESC places and one of those has been used on Kyerewaa so looking abroad can be quite limited as the club are hardly likely to be able to get internationals from the top leagues. Therefore those they do bring in under that scheme have to be able to make a difference.

[Whore Jackie]

Abraham Kanu going on season-long loan at Forest Green Rovers.

[Snowflake Royal]

Abraham Kanu going on season-long loan at Forest Green Rovers.

Good move for him. Should test his physicality and temperament. Going there apparently under Robbie Savage, who will have seen him play and know him somewhat through Charlie.

Sounds ideal.

[Stranded]

Abraham Kanu going on season-long loan at Forest Green Rovers.

Good move for him. Should test his physicality and temperament. Going there apparently under Robbie Savage, who will have seen him play and know him somewhat through Charlie.

Sounds ideal.

It's almost as if we are acting like a proper football club.

[JedMaxwell]

When was the last time we loaned a player out, who wasn't a 17 year old 'keeper going into non-league?