Reading have signed midfielder Ovie Ejaria on loan from Liverpool for a second spell at the club.

The 21-year-old has put pen to paper on a contract which will see him rejoin José Gomes’ squad on loan until the end of the 2019-20 season, with a view to a permanent move to the Madejski.

The loan contract was signed at 16:44 and the complete paperwork submitted to the relevant football authorities at 16:51.

Royals boss José Gomes said: “The fans, the players, my coaching team and I already know all about the quality Ovie possesses, the impact he can make at this level and the respect he already commands within the dressing room here at Reading. I am thrilled he has agreed to join us again this season.”

Born in London, Ejaria initially joined Arsenal’s Academy in 2005 but at the age of 16 he left the capital to join Liverpool.

Ejaria was included in Jürgen Klopp’s squad for a tour of the USA in 2016 and, soon after, made his professional debut - coming off the bench to replace Roberto Firmino in League Cup win over Derby County.

In January 2018, the six-foot midfield maestro spent the second half of the season at Sunderland, where he scored his first professional goal in a 3-0 home win over Wolves. Last summer he linked up with former Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard to go on loan to Glasgow Rangers and, at Ibrox, he made 28 appearances in total - finding the net against Motherwell in the league and then Russian Premier League side FC Ufa in the Europa League.

The next goal he scored was in Reading colours at Madejski Stadium - and it was a crucial spectacular top corner finish that earned us a valuable point against Rotherham United in February.

After putting pen to paper on a loan switch to the Royals last January, the England Under-20 World Cup winner made a total of 16 starts under José Gomes and proved to be one of five key January transfer window loan acquisitions who were hugely influential in steering the Royals clear of trouble at the foot of the Championship table last season.

Chief Executive Nigel Howe said: “As we all know, Ovie is a quiet but confident young midfielder who fits our formula very well. He enjoyed his loan spell with us last season, felt part of the Reading family and I am delighted he has agreed to return as a Royal again. I’m sure our fans will welcome him back with very open arms.”