Reading land Duberry

Reading have completed the signing of Stoke captain Michael Duberry for an undisclosed fee.

The 31-year-old central defender has signed a one-and-a-half-year contract to the summer of 2008,

The Royals have been able to take advantage of a clause in Duberry’s contract with the Coca-Cola Championship side which allows him to move to a Premiership club.

Royals director of football Nick Hammond said: “Michael is a very experienced centre-half who has played at the highest level, including nearly 150 Premiership appearances and a European final.

“This season he has captained a Stoke team which has the best defensive record in the Championship, and we think this is a very sensible signing which gives us additional quality as we enter the final stages of the season.”

Chairman John Madejski added: “I’d like to welcome Michael to Reading. He is a high calibre performer who has been in excellent form this season and will add experience to our squad.

“This completes a busy period of activity for us in the transfer window and we are very satisfied with the deals we have secured.”

Duberry started his career with Chelsea – where he gained a winners medal in the European Cup Winners’ Cup – and later had a five-year spell with Leeds before joining Stoke in October 2004.