Alex Pearce Completes Move To Derby

08 June 2015
By Hob Nob Anyone?

Alex Pearce has completed his expected move to Championship side Derby County, after failing to agree a new contract to keep him at Reading. As Pearce is out of contract he moves to Derby on a free transfer and Reading will fail to get any transfer fee. As previously reported there appears to be no money available to negotiate favourable contracts to players at the end of existing deals. The club had offered both Pearce and Federici, who has already gone to Bournemouth, new contracts but they were able to negotiate better deals elsewhere.

The last time Alex Pearce approached the end of his contract he was widely expected to move, but the club managed to retain his services. This time his agent was obviously able to secure him a good deal to move and he departs after spending his entire professional career on Reading's books. After confirming his move Pearce said "I have been at Reading since I was 12 years old. But there is always a time in your life when you have to move on with certain things and this is the time for me"

"It's a big thing for me to get this deal over the line and I'm really delighted that everything has been finalised. I found out about it quite early doors after the season finished and after we had got in contact with each other, everything escalated really quickly. It's been a smooth transition and it is very pleasing that I'm going to be part of such a great club going forward. The ambition of the club was a huge pull for me. I spoke to certain people within the club and it was clear to see that there is a clear vision here at Derby to not only get into the Premier League, but stay there and that is something that you want to be part of as a player."

Reading's contract negotiations look a bit of mess after a set of players were not offered new contracts. Those that were out of contract and were offered new deals included Federici, Pearce, Kelly, Karacan and Samuel. Two of those players have already left and there is no news to confirm that Kelly and Karacan will be staying put. Samuel, having had a successful loan spell at League One Coventry City last season, will remain a Reading player. However a large chunk of Reading's first team squad from last season will not be at the club next season and Reading are yet to bring anyone in to replace them.

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