Royals swoop for Fae

Reading have signed Ivory Coast international Emerse Fae for a club record fee from Nantes.

The 23-year-old midfielder has joined the Royals for an initial fee of around £2.5m and has penned a three-year deal with the option for a fourth year.

Fae, who will be handed the number 20 shirt, made more than 100 appearances for Nantes and was part of the French Youth World Championship winning side in 2001 before switching national allegiances to the Ivory Coast. He was a member of the Elephants’ 2006 World Cup squad.