PAUL Clement has strengthened his Reading FC squad with the signing of Irish midfielder David Meyler on a two-year deal.

Royals snapped up the former Hull City player on a free, with the option of a third year included in his contract.

The 29-year-old returned from international duty with the Republic of Ireland to make the move to the Madejski, having played against France and USA in the last two weeks.

Meyler will initially be at the club until 2020 and is the latest acquisition under the new manager after Barnsley skipper Andy Yiadom was added to the roster in the close season.

Manager Clement said: “I am very happy to welcome David to the club as our second signing of the summer.

"He comes here with a lot of experience at this level but also the level above and with his ability and his leadership qualities, David is going to add a lot to our squad.

“At the end of last season, I felt it was important to bring in a player of David’s profile.

"When I met with him, I got a real sense of his ambition to play at the highest level again. Together, we’ll be fighting to push this club forward.”

The Republic of Ireland international came through the ranks with his hometown club Cork City before crossing the Irish Sea to sign for Sunderland as a teenager in 2008.

He broke into the Black Cats’ first team towards the end of their 2009/10 Premier League campaign, debuting in a 2-2 draw at Blackburn Rovers in December 2009.

He left Wearside for a loan spell at Hull City where he was reunited with his former Black Cats boss Steve Bruce, scoring three goals in four games.

The loan move was made permanent when the window reopened the following month, with Meyler signing a three-and-a-half year deal.

Meyler added: “I am delighted and I am looking forward to the challenge ahead.

"I was looking for ambition and I spoke to the manager – he lined that out for me and I want to get this club promoted.

“We spoke about the way he wants to play, what he wants to do and where he thinks this club should be.

Reading Chronicle:

"The focus is to get back to the Premier League and that’s what I’m here to do.

“Having those moments and being involved in them is incredible, especially for fans and everyone involved, that’s got to be the target.

“In my time at Hull I helped create history, I want to come here and create our own piece of history.”

In total, Meyler has 20 international caps to his name and amassed a total of 181 appearances as a Hull City player before opting to leave the KC Stadium this summer for a new challenge.

Clement will be hoping to get the most out of his two signings as the club looks to bounce back from a poor run in the Championship last season.

Royals CEO Ron Gourlay added: “David is a player with Premier League and international pedigree and he also knows exactly what it takes to get promoted from one of the toughest divisions in the world.

"We are pleased to be completing good business so early in the summer and, following Andy Yiadom’s commitment to the club last month, I am very confident David will be another valuable addition to our squad.”