Lincoln City Captain Paudie O’Connor has signed for fellow League One side Reading for an undisclosed
fee after completing a medical this afternoon.
The Defender made 121 appearances in three season for the Imps, joining in 2022 from then League Two side Bradford City, where he was also club Captain.
The Limerick academy graduate joined Lincoln on a free transfer after three and a half years with the Bantams and he now departs in search of a return to Championship football.
Having been made club captain in August 2023 under then manager Mark Kenedy, the defender led the Imps out 88 times, 45 of which came as they narrowly missed out on the play-offs in the 2023/24 season.
Reading also only just missed out on the play-offs on the last day amidst worries that the club may be removed from the Football League should a takeover not have been completed.
That takeover, led by former Wycombe Wanderers owner Rob Couhig and American businessman Toddv Trosclair, was completed in May, with the pair having since taken full control of the club, the Select Car Leasing Stadium and Bearwood training ground from former owner Dai Yongge.
O’Connor becomes the clubs first permanent arrival since their transfer embargo was lifted in March after the club met several requirements set by the EFL.
The Irishman will likely be the first of many arrivals this summer as the Royals look to make the final step back into the Championship as they leave their previous ownership worries behind.