Goalkeeper Virginia Signs On Season Long Loan

11 July 2019
By Hob Nob Anyone?

Reading have signed Everton goalkeeper Joao Virginia on a season long loan. Portuguese Virginia is just 19 years old and comes to Reading without making an appearance for Everton so far after a year at the club. Last season he spent the season in goal for the Everton Under 23 side who won the league with Virginia keeping some vital clean sheets.

Virginia has played for Portugal's Under 17s, Under 19s, and Under 21s. His time playing club youth football was spent at Benfica before a move to Arsenal's youth set-up in 2015. He appears to be well known to Reading boss Jose Gomes who is expecting the young keeper to compete for the position of first choice goalkeeper. He comes to Reading fully expecting to play the first senior football of his career and it should be a great opportunity to both Reading and the player, after learning his trade at some of the biggest clubs in the game.

Reading have signed Everton goalkeeper Joao Virginia on a season long loan. Portuguese Virginia is just 19 years old and comes to Reading without making an appearance for Everton so far after a year at the club. Last season he spent the season in goal for the Everton Under 23 side who won the league with Virginia keeping some vital clean sheets.
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Virginia has played for Portugal's Under 17s, Under 19s, and Under 21s. His time playing club youth football was spent at Benfica before a move to Arsenal's youth set-up in 2015. He appears to be well known to Reading boss Jose Gomes who is expecting the young keeper to compete for the position of first choice goalkeeper. He comes to Reading fully expecting to play the first senior football of his career and it should be a great opportunity to both Reading and the player, after learning his trade at some of the biggest clubs in the game.

Discussion On This Story:

  Hendo

» 05 Jul 2019 14:11



https://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/reading-fc-close-making-joao-16537813

  Silver Fox

» 05 Jul 2019 14:15

I shall be calling you Joey Vagina, welcome to the club

  Hound

» 05 Jul 2019 14:29

hmm 19 year old, without a league appearance as first choice keeper? Brave move if so
Definitely Southwood out the door if true

  Hendo

» 05 Jul 2019 14:33



Good upbringing though, both for the domestic clubs he has been attached to and playing in every unders team for Portugal.

  retro royal

» 05 Jul 2019 14:42

Think I'd rather have given Southwood a chance rather than a young loan player with less first team experience,

  Zip

» 05 Jul 2019 14:45



+1. Very harsh on Southwood.

  Sutekh

» 05 Jul 2019 14:50

Not sure I get this one but presumably JG and his team know all about him and are confident in what he can do and clearly must rate him higher than any of the other keepers at the club.

  Hound

» 05 Jul 2019 14:55



Good upbringing though, both for the domestic clubs he has been attached to and playing in every unders team for Portugal.

yeah, quick google suggests he is a talented keeper, and looked like he did quite well at U23 level last season

  retro royal

» 05 Jul 2019 15:39

Lian Driscoll possibly off to Yeovil on loan http://www.ciderspace.co.uk/ASP/news/news.asp?NewsItemId=30054

  andrew1957

» 05 Jul 2019 16:40

This seems an odd move to me. It would be pointless bring him in other than as number 1 - as we had Southwood et al that could have taken the number 2/3 role and plenty of Academy keepers and so if true we must be bringing in as first choice.
Would seem a big risk as he has zero league starts and he is less experience than say Southwood.

  Snowflake Royal

» 05 Jul 2019 17:12



+1. Very harsh on Southwood.
Yes. Club that is consistently producing good youth keepers releases two and signs someone else's on loan. Itd be bonkers if Ward and Southwood go with this guy coming in, No 1 or not.

  Zip

» 05 Jul 2019 17:21



Is he going to be first choice? I was thinking he was going to be third choice behind Walker with another keeper coming in. It’s a huge gamble if this guy is our number one.

  Hound

» 05 Jul 2019 17:32

Of course it depends on if he is better than Southwood and co
Reports are very encouraging. And if they just don’t think that Southwood and Ward are actually all that, then strange as it may appear, it’s the right thing to do
Be a shame in many ways but you just have to go with who you think is the best man for the job. Seems they’ve moved on from Southwood and Ward to CBC and Andresson to me

  Hound

» 05 Jul 2019 17:44

‘Sky sources’ reckon this is imminent btw
Obvs ‘Sky Sources’ could just be JLow mind you

  Snowflake Royal

» 05 Jul 2019 17:46


I find it most frustrating because the last time we had a group of quality young keepers we didn't really trust them. Hamer was moved on and has since proved he was good enough. McCarthy did play but his chances were somewhat limited and quickly moved on. Andersen never got a chance, but hasn't really proved that decision wrong in fairness.
I just think we should be seizing the opportunity to at least test one of them in the League Cup before binning them off with 2nd choice blockers or other total gamble youngsters on loan, especially if we've got them this far and they've been well rated.

  URZZZZ

» 05 Jul 2019 18:09

Wondering if those who want Southwood to stay are basing it off having watched him on a regular basis or simply just “hearing things”. I want Southwood to be given a chance because I’ve heard good things about him but I’ve never actually seen him play so I can’t be sure how good he is
Everton fans seem happy with this loan, sounds promising

  Stranded

» 05 Jul 2019 18:49

If this happens, he is likely coming as 1st choice or to challenge. Not sure Everton would let him out on loan unless likely to get minutes at Champ level.
Would suggest the coaches don't rate Southwood or if the rumours of him leaving are not true then he will challenge him for 1st choice.

  Hound

» 05 Jul 2019 18:55

Southwood wasn’t in the Bearwood pics
He is almost certainly leaving

  Millsy

» 06 Jul 2019 10:04

Joao do we know he's any good?

  NewCorkSeth

» 06 Jul 2019 11:43

Having a medical today apparently.

  Zip

» 06 Jul 2019 12:21

From what I’ve read he is highly rated at Everton. Seriously impressed for their U23’s last season and suggested he would be challenging to make their first team squad this season. So it looks like he is coming here as our number one.

  NewCorkSeth

» 06 Jul 2019 14:08

Some dude on Twitter who appears to know w lot about Portuguese players is very complimentary about this guy. Says hes a certain future international for Portugal. Shot stopping, ball at feet and command of his area all strkng points. Only possible weakness he mentions is one on ones.

  NewCorkSeth

» 06 Jul 2019 19:41

Is there a chance we are after this guy purely because we have been speaking to Bibbo? After Martinez last season maybe someone at the club who still talks to Bibbo asked him if he had any other recommendations and he pointed us in Virginias direction.

  Pepe the Horseman

» 06 Jul 2019 22:05


No.

  Wallsy

» 06 Jul 2019 22:15

Jose has a very good relationship with Marco Silva. Might help us with future deals, who knows. This one seems to be all but done and the lad will fly out to Spain to meet up with the squad.

  NewCorkSeth

» 06 Jul 2019 22:23


No.
Sorry.

  Pepe the Horseman

» 06 Jul 2019 22:58


No.
Sorry.
Np x

  maffff

» 07 Jul 2019 10:48

Possibly, Virginia was at Arsenal before last season.

  Victor Meldrew

» 07 Jul 2019 11:25

It looks as though he has spent a lot of time on the bench at Arsenal and Everton for their under age teams.

I reckon he will be our no.2-it would be quite a gamble to make him no.1 when he has had such little experience.

It doesn't say much for the many keepers that we have at the club who always seem to carry the tag of being "highly rated" and clearly they are not so highly rated by Gomes who was quick to bring in Martinez last season..
I think we can expect more and more Portuguese players but that is no bad thing if any are somewhere near as good as those brought in by Wolves.

  Hound

» 07 Jul 2019 11:25

Presumably Martinez would be very familiar with him as well, expect he was probably asked
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