THE Dutch influence at Reading FC continues to grow following the signing of Netherlands captain, Mandy van den Berg.

Royals brought in a number of Dutch players in the summer under Jaap Stam.

Now Reading FC Women are following suit with the high-profile capture of 26-year-old defender, van den Berg, from Liverpool Ladies.

Van den Berg captained her country at the 2015 Women's World Cup in Canada where they reached the last 16.

And Royals boss Kelly Chambers is confident she will be an excellent addition to her squad in Women's Super League 1 next season.

"Firstly it's great that we are attracting players of Mandy's calibre to the club," beamed Chambers. "It shows what a good season we have just had, but also that the club is going in the right direction.

"I am really excited to bring Mandy on board here, she joined the WSL last season and has great international experience but still wants to learn and develop as a player.

"Mandy will add to our young squad in many different ways and will fit right in with our style of play, I’m looking forward to working with her."


Van den Berg has won 75 caps for Holland. She won the league and cup double in her homeland with Den Haag, whom she played for in the Women's Champions League.

A switch to Liverpool followed earlier this year and she played 13 times for the Reds.

Van den Berg explained her reasons for joining Reading, starting: "I want to build from behind, starting from the goalkeeper. That's how we play in the national team as well.

"I was very pleased to see a team in the WSL playing the way we want to play in the national team.

"As soon as we arrived here in Reading the atmosphere of the whole club, the group of players and the staff, was so positive."

Van den Berg is poised to captain the Netherlands against Belgium and England later this month before joining up with Chambers’ squad in January.