YAKOU Meite has signed a new, long-term contract at Reading FC.

The French forward put pen to paper on a four-year deal earlier today that keeps him at Madejski Stadium until summer 2022.

And boss Paul Clement says he expects the 22-year-old to keep progressing in the years to come.

“Yakou is a strong, powerful, versatile, attack-minded player who has demonstrated he is capable of playing in a number of different positions," said Clement.

"At 22 years of age, he is a player who I believe will continue to improve and I am very pleased he has committed to a new contract at the club.”

Meite joined Royals from Paris Saint-Germain in July 2016, having played a minor role in their treble-winning season under Laurent Blanc.

Royals loaned him to French second-tier side Sochaux for the 2017/18 season before eh returned this summer to fight for a first-team place.

The Ivory Coast international has scored one in 12 league and cup appearances this season and went close to an equaliser against QPR last night when he hit the post in the second half.

Royals chief executive Ron Gourlay said: “Yakou came back from a season on loan in France desperate to impress and his hard work in training alongside his performances in pre-season and at the start of our 2018-19 campaign have earned him this new deal."

Sporting director Gianluca Nani added: “Yakou is young, hard-working and hungry for success here are Reading. So I am pleased we have been able to offer him a new deal and I look forward to watching him mature into an even better player.”