HOPE Akpan today completed his move to fellow Championship club Blackburn Rovers.

The 23-year-old joins Gary Bowyer's side on a two-year deal, having made 63 appearances for the Royals.

Akpan, who joined Reading from Crawley Town in 2013, has found first-team football hard to come by in recent years and found himself down the pecking order in Steve Clarke's plans for the upcoming season.

The midfielder was in the stands  to watch Blackburn lose to Wolves on the weekend and today completed his move to Ewood Park.

"Last season was a frustrating one for Hope Akpan due to injury and lack of game-time," said Clarke. "It is an area of the pitch where we are well covered and it would be wrong to deny Hope the chance to play matches and start to move his career forward again. 

"He was always a good person in my squad with the correct attitude towards training and I wish him well for the future.”

Meanwhile, Jake Taylor has also departed Reading after agreeing a one-year loan deal with SPL side Motherwell.

The 23-year-old will remain at Fir Park until the end of the  season and could go straight into their side for the trip to Hearts tomorrow night.

Director of Football Nick Hammond said: “This is a good opportunity for Jake to get the experience of regular first-team football. 

"Motherwell is a good club and they have a good manager in Ian Baraclough, and Jake will benefit from the chance to play regular football.”