CHELSEA midfielder Lewis Baker has become Reading FC boss Jose Gomes' second signing in a week.

The 23-year-old midfielder has joined on loan for the remainder of the season.

Baker passed a medical at Madejski Stadium earlier today after his season-long loan with Leeds United was recently terminated due to a lack of first-team opportunties.

But Gomes expects him to become a key player for Royals during their battle for Championship survival.

“Lewis is a player of undoubted ability," declared the Portuguese manager.

"Having grown up at Chelsea, he has gone on to regularly represent his country at youth level and earn valuable first-team experience on loan both in England and Holland.

"Importantly, he also knows what it takes to meet the demands of this division and I am looking forward to him joining the group in training for the first time tomorrow.”

Baker returned to Stamford Bridge recently after his loan at Championship rivals Leeds United was cut short.

He made only two league starts under Marcelo Bielsa including their 1-0 win over Reading at Elland Road in November.

But with his opportunities limited, he was recalled by Chelsea who then loaned him to Royals in the hope of securing regular games.

Baker made 14 appearances in all for Leeds and has enjoyed previous loan spells with Sheffield Wednesday, MK Dons, Vitesse Arnhem and Middlesbrough.

Royals were linked with Baker in summer 2017 just after he had signed a new five-year contract.

He is a former Chelsea teammate of John Swift, who believes the Luton-born star will be a major addition.

“Technically he is very, very good. He can use both feet, he is strong and he runs a lot,” Swift previously said. “He would benefit us a lot and he can get on the scoresheet as well.

“I played with him for five or six years. He’s a great player.”

Gomes made his first signing as Royals boss on Monday with the capture of Liverpool midfielder Ovie Ejaria, 21, who also joins for the remainder of the Championship campaign.

Both players could now be involved in Saturday's home clash against Nottingham Forest (3pm ko) as Reading seek to end an 11-match winless run in all competitions.

The Reading squad is undergoing a major overhaul under Gomes with several players placed on the transfer list.

Defenders Tiago Ilori and Tyler Blackett are also the subject of strong interest from Sporting Lisbon and Wigan Athletic respectively.