McCleary reveals ‘dream’ move

New Reading winger Garath McCleary has said how his move to the Royals is a ‘dream come true’ for him.

The 25-year old winger signed from Nottingham Forest yesterday on a three-year deal and admitted he cannot wait to get started. Garath, who was born a short journey away in Oxford, was a free transfer after his contract was set to run out and is also Brian McDermott’s first signing of the summer.

McCleary told the official RFC website: ‘I can’t wait to get this Reading shirt on and prove what I can do. It’s amazing to be at a club like Reading, being a local boy this is a fantastic opportunity for me. I only started playing in December so to only play half the season and be recognised like that is superb.’

‘When I first heard of the interest from Reading it was brilliant, the manager is great, he likes to play with wingers so for me it was a no brainer. I think it was four and a half years I was at Bromley, and just before that I was at Slough – so this is the stuff that dreams are made of.’

The former Bromley forward was Forest’s player of the season this campaign and gained a lot of interest in his signature from the likes of Celtic, West Brom and Wigan. It is believed that McCleary has penned a deal with the Royals worth £15,000-a-week, after he turned down Forest’s offer of £10,000-a-week.