A host of the club’s most promising youngsters put pen to paper on Tuesday, and more are set to follow in the coming weeks.

Highly-rated goalkeeper Stuart Moore penned a one-year deal. The 19-year-old played a number of times for the Under 18s and Under 21s last season, and enjoyed spells with Gloucester City and Bath.

Talented left back Shane Griffin signed a two-year contract after an outstanding season last year.

He was nominated for Ireland’s Under 19 Player of the Year Award in 2013, and was a mainstay of Royals’ U21 side which lifted the Premier League Cup.

Right back Shane Long was another regular in the U21s and the Republic of Ireland U19 skipper also signed a two-year deal with The Royals.

Nonu Owusu was a key member of the Royals U18s side which reached the FA Youth Cup semi-final last season, and he also agreed a two-year deal.

Joining them is striker Dominic Samuel who has been given an initial one-year contract.

Samuel, who played for Reading in the Premier League against Sunderland in 2012/13, struggled with injuries last season after picking up a knee problem during a loan spell with Dagenham & Redbridge.

The club has also welcomed a new intake of scholars for the 2014/15 campaign.

They were inducted on Tuesday at Madejski Stadium, with Academy manager Eamonn Dolan there to welcome them, alongside assistants David Dodds, Lee Herron and Michael Gilkes.

As well as signing contracts, the 14 youngsters listened to talks from figures around the club on subjects such as education, sports science and social media.

Joining the Academy as first year scholars are: Joe Tupper, Justin Thompson-Lee, Daniel Akinwumni, Ryan East, Harrison Bennett, Sam Smith, Gabriel Osho, Luke Southwood, Joshua Barrett, Joshua Chatee, Conor Davis, Axel Andresson, Sindri Scheving and Billy Collings.

Most graduated to the U18s after a successful season in the U16s.

However, among the new faces are centre-back Axel Andresson from Icelandic club Afturelding, and fellow countryman Sindri Scheving, who arrives from Valur.

Royals have also brought in Sam Smith from Manchester United, while Irishman Conor Davis is due to join Reading’s Academy from Dublin club Templelogue United.

This season’s second year scholars, many of whom featured for Reading U18s in the 2013/14 campaign, are: Daniel Williams, Tennai Watson, Noor Husin, Lewis Ward, Amadu Waritay, Hammad Lawal, Lewis Collins, Harry Cardwell, Tomas Urbancic, Marc Ethelston, Jake Sheppard and Zak Jules.