Here at Reading City Football Club it’s always a proud moment when our players progress through the ranks. 

We are therefore delighted to announce that young centre-forward Harlen Lewis who is a homegrown talent having progressed through the Reading City Football Club Academy has signed for the first team at the age of 17. 

Harlen has been at Reading City Football Club since he was 10 years old and last season impressed in our Under 18s Squad who narrowly missed out on the Combined Counties Football League Tony Ford Under 18 Division West title.  He has a clear eye for goal having once scored five goals in 35 minutes.

Everyone at Reading City Football Club is really excited to see Harlen progress in senior football next season.

We spoke to John Goodwin, Secretary of the Under 18s following Harlen signing for the first team, here’s what he had to say:

“Harlen had his first full season with us last year.

 

He’s ever present, he trains well, will always give you 100%, and covers so much ground during a game. He will hunt defenders down and chase what most of us would see as a lost cause.

 

He never stops working. With tough competition from another striker in our team, his total game time equated to just over half of the season which was an amazing return in a tough league and he finished our top goalscorer with 11 goals.

 

He’s a menace to defenders. You don’t want him running at you, especially with a ball over the top.

 

Very pleased that we’ve managed to push Harlen and assist in his improvement and that his hard work has been rewarded.”

We also spoke to First Team Manager, Simon Johnson following Harlen putting pen-to-paper and here’s what he had to say about him progressing into the First Team camp: 

“Harlen has been with our youth system for many years and I remember coaching him at Under 12’s. When he turned up to training and he was over 6 foot and built I was very surprised. But he took to men’s football immediately.

 

Powerful, aggressive and an eye for goal. I’m so excited to see what he can deliver in senior football this year. By the end of his first session, the lads had renamed him Haaland, hopefully he turns out similar!!

 

Welcome Harlen.”