With great pleasure, Reading Football Club announces the re-signing of nine young players for the upcoming 2025–2026 season.

ASHQAR AHMED

After having a breakthrough season the previous season, in which he made 11 First Team appearances, Ahmed inks a

two-year contract with the Royals.

In August 2024, the 18-year-old made his Football League Trophy debut after replacing Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan on

the bench at halftime and helping fellow Academy graduate Tyler Sackey score the Royals’ third goal of the match.

JACOB BORGNIS

In RG2, 20-year-old Borgnis signs a new one-year contract, adding another season to his three-year stint with the

team.

The defender made 15 appearances for Peter Scott’s Under 21 team in 2024–2025, including captaining the team in

the season’s last four Premier League 2 games.

CARTER BOWDERY

Carter Bowdery, who was a mainstay in Harrison Gilkes’ Under 18 team the previous season, signed his first

professional contract with the Royals for a one-year term.

In the Premier League Cup Final in April, he had a magical moment when he curled a magnificent 25-yard right-

footed strike into the top right corner to tie the score against West Ham.

PHILIP DUAH

Duah, 18, agrees to a one-year contract that will keep him with the team until the summer of 2026.

With 17 appearances in the Under 18s Premier League last season, the formidable 6’1″ defender was a staple in our

Under 18s backline. Additionally, he advanced to Peter Scott’s Under 21 team, playing four Premier League 2 games

while wearing the Royals uniform.

SAM HARRISON

Harrison, who made 28 appearances for the Under 18s and Under 21s previous season, signs a new one-year

contract in RG2.

In August 2024, he played as an unused substitute on the bench during the First Team Football League Trophy

match against West Ham United Under 21.

ABRAHAM KANU

After making 16 appearances for the First Team in 2024–2025, young defender Abraham Kanu has extended his stay

with the Royals with a new one-year contract.

The 19-year-old, who played for the Sierra Leone Under 20 team at this summer’s Africa Cup of Nations in his age

group and lost to Morocco by a slim margin in the Quarterfinals, also has international recognition on his agenda.

SHAY SPENCER

After playing for the First Team and Under 21s in 2024–2025, midfielder Shay Spencer has agreed to a new one-year

contract with the Royals.

The young player made his league debut, playing the final ten minutes of the Select Car Leasing Stadi’s 4-1 loss to

Crawley Town, and he started all three of the Football League Trophy group matches.

BASIL TUMA

Malta international Tuma signs a new one year deal with the club, extending his stay in RG2 since becoming a Royal

in 2022.

The 20 year old made seven appearances for the First Team across League One, the FA Cup and Football League

Trophy. He also played the second half in his country’s World Cup Qualifying match against the Netherlands this

summer, going toe-to-toe with the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, and Ryan Gravenberch.

JOSH WELLAND

Goalie Welland, who played in Harrison Gilkes’ Under-18 squad in 2024–2025, signs a new two-year contract with

the Royals.

The goalie, who made 19 appearances in the team’s Under 18 Premier League campaign the previous season, will be

hoping to improve on a string of impressive showings in goal.

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