Reading have signed Hope Akpan on a three-and-a-half-year deal it has been confirmed.
The 21-year old former Everton midfielder joins the Royals from League One club Crawley Town and manager Brian McDermott was delighted to welcome him to the Madejski Stadium.
"I'm delighted to have signed Hope, we have known all about him for a very long time," he told the club's official website.
"He has a great pedigree coming through the ranks at a top Premier League side in Everton.
"There were a lot of clubs in for him during this window, but once he heard of our interest this was the only place he wanted to play. He's 21 and is a player we feel can play at this level."
