With the January transfer window in full-swing, we look at some of the best, and worst, permanent signings Reading have made in the month of January since moving to the Madejski Stadium in 1998.

BEST

Steve Sidwell:
Sidwell joined Reading for an undisclosed fee in January 2003 from Arsenal. He went on to become an integral part of Reading’s rise.

Sidwell joined halfway through what was a successful season, the clubs first back in the second tier in which they narrowly lost in the playoff semi-finals to Wolves over two legs.

He won Championship Player of the Month in September 2004 and forged a fantastic partnership with central-midfield partner James Harper.

He barely missed a game over the next four campaigns in which Reading reached the Premier League, and finished eighth in his final season as a Reading player.

He agreed halfway through his final year that he was not to sign a new contract and decided to join Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.

He left having played 187 appearances in blue and white, scoring 30 goals.

He had a fantastic career, playing for Aston Villa and Brighton and Hove Albion after leaving Chelsea.

Adam Federici

Australian goalkeeper joined Reading in January 2005 as an unattached player, and went on to be on Reading’s books for a decade.

He had two loan spells, at Maidenhead United and Northwood, before making his debut in the 2006/07 season.

He was first choice goalkeeper for the 2009/10 season and baring a couple of campaigns, in which Alex McCarthy took the starting berth, he remained in place until he left in 2015.

He did not miss a league game as Reading won the Championship title in 2011/12.

Having been capped 16 times by Australia, he is goalkeeper of high calibre, especially his distribution.

Unfortunately his final season was marred by a mistake in the FA Cup Semi-Final against Arsenal at Wembley, but he regained his confidence and won the Reading FC Supporters Player of the Year award for the 2014/15 season.

He left Reading to join Premier League Bournemouth after making 253 appearances for the club, even scoring a goal in stoppage time in a 1-1 draw with Cardiff City in 2008.

He is now at Stoke City in the Championship.

Jimmy Kebe

The Malian winger Kebe joined Reading in January 2008 as the side were fighting relegation from the Premier League.

He was unable to help Reading stay up that season but was a mainstay over the next five years as he helped Reading reach two FA Cup Quarter-Finals, a play-off final and a Championship title.

However, in all of his 188 appearances for Reading he is most famous for one incident against West Ham in 2011.

With the team 2-0 and cruising, he decided to adjust his socks with the ball at his feet.

The Hammers felt that this was goading and unsportsmanlike, and so Jack Collison decided to kick and push him to the ground, where he was then surrounded by the angy West Ham players.

Collison received his marching orders and Reading scored another goal in what was a successful season for the club.

He left following relegation to the Premier League and went on to play for Crystal Palace and Leeds United in England, but was unable to recreate his form that he had at Reading elsewhere.

Jason Roberts
Roberts joined the Royals in the heat of a promotion battle in January 2012, and he was instrumental in helping Reading reach the promised land.

Having joined age 34, he had a wealth of experience in the top-flight with West Brom, Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic.

He came to the Madejski following a six year spell at Ewood Park and immediately hit the ground running with a debut goal against Bristol City.

Even though he only made 29 appearances in a Reading shirt, scoring seven goals, his impact on the promotion winning team has never been doubted.

Unfortunately he was hampered with injury throughout his second season at the club and retired from football after failing to make an appearance in the 2013/14 campaign.

WORST

Greg Halford
Reading signed Halford for a then-club record deal worth a reported £2.25m in January 2007.

He was only 23 and had come highly regarded following a five year spell with Colchester United.

However it was too much too soon and he was not Premier League quality.

He went on to make only three appearances for Reading, but has since carved out a respectable career in the second and third tiers, namely with Wolves, Portsmouth and Nottingham Forest to name but a few.

Daniel Carrico
A controversial inclusion for a man that has won three UEFA Europa League’s with Sevilla but he joined Reading in January 2013 for a reported £750,000.

He played just 87 minutes of league football for Reading spread over three appearances, and was sent on loan to Sevilla the following season before joining them permanently for free.

He has since played over 150 times for the Spanish club, and has played for the Portugese national team.

Jure Travner
Serbian full-back Travner joined Reading from Azerbaijan FK Baku in January 2015.

He played just once for the club, that being in the game against Watford in which Steve Clarke made 11 changes as it was just a few days before the FA Cup Semi-Final against Arsenal.

He was released at the end of that season and joined Celje in Serbia.

Adrian Popa
The one player in this list that is still on the books of Reading, Serbian Popa joined in January 2017 as Reading went on to reach the play-off final.

He made eight appearances the following season but has since had three loan spells at Al-Tauwoon, Ludogorets and Steaua Bucheresti.

His contract is to expire at the end of the current season, and it is hard to see him staying past the summer.