READING have confirmed their second signing of a hectic day of transfers with the capture of Chris Gunter from Nottingham Forest for around �2.3 million.

The Wales international has joined on a three-year deal with the option of a further year.

His signing was confirmed only hours after Royals announced the transfer of Adrian Mariappa from Watford for around �2.5 million.

Both arrive in time to join Reading's pre-season tour to Portugal, with Brian McDermott's squad due to depart tomorrow.

Gunter, 22, had spells with Cardiff City and Tottenham Hotspur before switching to Nottingham Forest where he was a team-mate of another Royals summer recruit, Garath McCleary.

McDermott said: "I'm absolutely delighted that Chris has signed. He was very, very keen to come to us and is another player who is young and very hungry.

"He's already played more than 200 games at club level, plus another 37 for his country, which is phenomenal for someone so young.

"Chris already knows our club well, he is very close to Garath McCleary, knows our Welsh players and I also know he met many of our squad over the summer too.

"With all the players we have brought in this summer they will improve and get better, and the most important thing is their hunger and desire.

"With all the business we've done this summer we think we've improved the quality in the squad considerably."

Gunter becomes Reading's seventh summer signing after McCleary, Danny Guthrie, Pavel Pogrebnyak, Nicky Shorey, Pierce Sweeney and Mariappa.

Ex-Manchester City and Arsenal keeper Stuart Taylor has also been training with Royals and may be offered a contract.

Meanwhile, Royals full-back Joseph Mills is set to sign for Burnley after passing a medical at Turf Moor.

** See Thursday's Chronicle for the very latest Royals news **