Reading FC release 11 players ahead of pre-season: Who are they?

Releasing their retained list on Friday, May 20, six first team players and five from the Academy will be looking for new clubs ahead of the 2022/23 season- so who are they?

READ MORE: Reading FC confirm retained and released list, with five offered deals

Terell Thomas

Signing a deal until the end of the season after a successful trial at the turn of the year, the former Crewe Alexandra defender was a regular with the Under-23s while trying to earn himself a deal with the Royals. The 26-year-old made two appearances at right-back, replacing Player of the Season Andy Yiadom, for the final two matches of the 2021/22 campaign- losing both 1-0.

Brandon Barker

Arriving in February after being released by Rangers, the former Manchester City Academy graduate made four cameos in a Royals shirt, equating to just 23 minutes. Playing no more than 12 minutes in any one game, the wide midfielder failed to make the desired impact and has not earned himself a new deal.

Orjan Nyland

A Norway-international, Nyland was drafted in as a free agent after his release from Championship runners-up Bournemouth.

Number one keeper since arriving in Berkshire, the former Aston Villa shot stopper played in the final 11 matches of the season and kept one clean sheet.

Unfortunately, his final action in a Reading shirt will be the mistake made in the 1-0 defeat to Luton Town in which he dropped the ball only for Hatters striker Harry Cornick to run from behind him and tap into an open net.

Felipe Araruna

Perhaps the saddest story of the players released, Brazilian Araruna departs after making just nine appearances in two-and-a-half seasons in RG2.

Originally signed as a midfielder, most of his appearances came at right-back.

Playing just two first team matches this season, he last featured in the harrowing 2-1 defeat to Kidderminster Harriers in the FA Cup after coming back from a long-term ligament injury- only to suffer a knee injury in the first half and never kick a ball for the club again.

Alen Halilvoic

Arriving with pedigree, having been dubbed the ‘Croatian Messi’ when playing for FC Barcelona, the 25-year-old joined up with Veljko Paunovic’s side last summer.

Three goal contributions in 11 Championship appearances is far from an awful return- but did not play since Monday, January 3 and only ever made the bench twice in the time since.

Marc McNulty

Someone who will be just as glad to see the back of the club as the club are to see the back of him, McNulty arrived in the summer of 2018 and has played just 17 matches.

Sent out on loan five times since, the Scot has stated in the press that he will be “delighted” when his deal is up, so it’s a win-win for both parties.

Ethan Bristow

20-year-old Bristow joined the club from a young age and signed his first professional contract in 2019.

Going on to make 11 first team appearances, he started this season the first choice left back until the loan signing of Ghana international Baba Rahman.

James Holden

Already confirmed to have signed for Cambridge United, the youth goalkeeper made two appearances on the first team substitute bench this season but never made an appearance for the club.

Lynford Sackey

19-year-old Sackey made one appearance for the Royals this season, in a 3-0 defeat to Swansea City in the opening round of the Carabao Cup, to add to his one appearance in last year’s competition.

A highly regarded full-back from the Academy, he is one to keep an eye on in the future.

Malachi Talent-Aryeetey

One to leave having never broken into the first team, 19-year-old midfielder Talent-Aryeetey played 15 times for the Under-23s and contributed two goals.

Jordan Addo-Antoine 

18-year-old left back Addo-Antoine played 14 times for the Under-18s, and made an appearance in the FA Youth Cup, contributing a goal and an assist as well as a clean sheet.