The 2016–17 season was Reading's 146th year in existence and fourth consecutive season in the Championship, and covers the period from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017. Reading finished 3rd in the league, qualifying for the play-offs, eventually losing to Huddersfield Town in the final on penalties.
Season review
Pre-season On 26 May, Reading announced a pre-season friendly against local rivals Swindon Town on 19 July, and against Boreham Wood on 3 July. The following day the club released manager Brian McDermott of his duties, whilst also announcing a pre-season friendly against Premier League side Bournemouth. On 31 May, Reading announced their fourth pre-season friendly, an away trip to Lincoln City on July 16, 2016.
On 13 June, Reading announced Jaap Stam as their new manager, replacing Brian McDermott who was fired at the end of May. Four days later Reading extended their sponsorship deal with Carabao Daeng for another three seasons.
On 21 June, Reading announced that Academy Manager Eamonn Dolan had died following a battle with cancer.
Reading announced on 7 July that they would be travelling to Oosterbeek, Netherlands for a weeklong training camp, with a friendly against Saudi Professional League side Al-Taawoun on 15 July. This meant Martin Kuhl would manage the fixture against Lincoln City on 16 July 2016 as the rest of the squad would be returning home on that same day.
On 26 July, Reading announced that they had accepted an invitation to enter their Category One Academy in the revamped EFL Trophy, being drawn against Bristol Rovers, Portsmouth and Yeovil Town the following day. On 28 July, the U23 side wear drawn against Everton, Athletic Bilbao and Hertha BSC in the Premier League International Cup.
Transfers Following the conclusion of the 2015–16 season, Reading announced on 9 May 2016 that they would not be renewing the contracts of Anton Ferdinand, Hal Robson-Kanu, Simon Cox, Nana Owusu, Pierce Sweeney, Lewis Collins, Noor Husin, Hammad Lawal, Samúel Friðjónsson, Conor Shaughnessy and Bogdan Vashchuk. Friðjónsson went on to sign a three-and-a-half-year contract with Norwegian Tippeligaen side Vålerenga on 16 June 2016, with Cox joining Southend United on 16 July 2016 and Sweeney joining Exeter City on 28 July 2016.
Also on 9 May 2016, Reading offered new contracts to Dominic Hyam, Robert Dickie, Shane Griffin, Sean Long, Aaron Kuhl, Liam Kelly, Zak Jules and George Legg, as well as Under-18 players Omar Richards, Harrison Bennett, Ryan East, Sam Smith, Luke Southwood, Billy Collings and Joe Tupper.
On 25 May 2016, Reading announced that they had signed Danzell Gravenberch on a three-year contract from FC Dordrecht, with the transfer to be confirmed upon the opening of the transfer window on 1 July 2016. During June, Reading were linked with Joey van den Berg, Tyler Blackett, and Tim Matavž. On 28 June, Van den Berg signed a two-year contract, which was completed upon the opening of the transfer window on 1 July.
As well as the transfers of Gravenberch and van den Berg being completed on 1 July, Reading announced that youngsters Lewis Ward, Zak Jules, George Legg, Sean Long, Shane Griffin, Liam Kelly, Aaron Kuhl, Robert Dickie, Dominic Hyam, Ryan East, Harrison Bennett, Joe Tupper, Billy Collings, Omar Richards, Luke Southward and Thomas McIntyre had all signed deals to stay with the club.
On 4 July, forward Rowan Liburd left the club on a permanent transfer, joining Stevenage for an undisclosed fee. Four days later, 8 July, Reading signed Joseph Mendes from Le Havre on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee.
Aaron Tshibola left the club for Aston Villa on 10 July, for an undisclosed fee. The following day it was announced that Finnish goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola had signed from Ajax Cape Town on a two-year deal. On 14 July, Reading signed John Swift to a three-year contract following his release from Chelsea, with Roy Beerens joining two days later on a three-year contract from Hertha BSC.
On 28 July, youngster Sean Long joined Cambridge United on a six-month loan deal, with Yakou Méïte joining on a three-year deal from Paris Saint-Germain the following day.
August Reading started the season with a 1–0 home win over Preston North End on 6 August thanks to a goal from John Swift on his debut, before following it up with a 2–0 victory over Plymouth Argyle in the EFL Cup three days later, with goals from Joey van den Berg and Roy Beerens. Reading's first defeat of the season came on 13 August, where they lost 0–2 to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux. Reading suffered their second defeat of the season on 17 August, a 4–1 away defeat to Newcastle United. Reading came from behind to earn a 2–2 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion on 20 August, and a further 2–2 draw, against Milton Keynes Dons on 23 August, saw Reading advance to the third round of the EFL Cup after winning 4–2 on penalties.
Reading's last match of the month was on 27 August, where they saw a 0–1 away win at Cardiff after an 89th-minute goal by Yann Kermorgant.
Transfers On 3 August, Paolo Hurtado returned to Vitória de Guimarães on a season-long loan, Lewis Ward joined Margate until 3 January 2017, George Legg joined Hungerford Town on a season-long loan, and Oliver Norwood moved to Brighton & Hove Albion on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee. On 5 August, winger Callum Harriott signed a three-year contract, moving from Charlton Athletic for an undisclosed fee.
Reading loaned Craig Tanner to Plymouth Argyle, and signed Liechtenstein international midfielder Sandro Wieser to a three-year contract the next day. On 19 August, youngster Aaron Kuhl moved to National League side Boreham Wood on loan until 28 January 2017, whilst defender Liam Moore became the club's tenth summer signing, joining the club from Leicester City the next day on a four-year contract. Tyler Blackett was signed to a three-year deal on 22 August.
On 25 August, Robert Dickie returned to Cheltenham Town on loan until 2 January 2017. Goalkeeper Jonathan Bond joined Gillingham on loan on 26 August, until 7 January 2017.
Near the end of the August, Reading where linked with a loan-move for Ghanaian Captain Asamoah Gyan from Shanghai SIPG, with the striker undertaking a medical at the club on 29 August. The following day, Reading backed out of the deal due to Gyan failing a medical.
On transfer deadline day, 31 August, Jack Stacey joined Exeter City on loan until 23 January 2017, Tarique Fosu joined Colchester United on loan until 7 January 2017, and Dominic Hyam joined Portsmouth until 8 January 2017.
During the summer transfer window, Portuguese youngster Lisandro Semedo left the club, joining AEZ Zakakiou in the Cypriot First Division.
September Reading's first match in September was a 2–1 league win against Ipswich at the Madejski Stadium on 9 September, in which all three goals came from penalties. Reading's two were taken by Garath McCleary and Danny Williams, who scored in first- and second-half injury time respectively. A midweek home tie against Birmingham on 13 September gave Reading one point from the 0–0 draw, and a 1–2 away win at Barnsley the following weekend saw Reading move to eighth place in the Championship, drawing on points with sixth-place Brentford. Reading progressed to the fourth round of the EFL Cup after a 1–2 away win against Brighton and Hove Albion on 20 September. The draw for the round took place on 21 September, with Reading drawn against Arsenal.
Reading saw a third consecutive win—and a continuation of their eight-match unbeaten run—on 24 September with a 1–0 home win against Huddersfield, with Reading rising to fourth in the league.
At the end of September, midfielder Érico Sousa joined the club on trial, featuring in the clubs U23 Development League fixture against Derby County on 26 September.
Reading's last game of the month was away at Brentford, which also saw the eight-game unbeaten run end after a 4–1 defeat.
October On 1 October Reading hosted Derby County in a match that saw four former Reading players—Matěj Vydra, Alex Pearce, Nick Blackman and Chris Baird—return to the Madejski Stadium. Vydra gave Derby the lead in the second half, although Reading equalised through George Evans in the 90th minute. The draw continued Reading's undefeated run at home. A further draw came after the international break, when on 15 October a 1–1 result at Queens Park Rangers took Reading to 7th in the league. A home loss on 18 October against Aston Villa brought the end of Reading's unbeaten home run. Despite holding a 1–1 draw since the early stages of the second half, Reading conceded a penalty in the 90th minute, with the resultant goal giving Aston Villa their first away win in over a year. Reading's final two league games of the month came on 22 and 29 October, where they beat Rotherham United 0–1 and Nottingham Forest 2–0. Reading were knocked out of the EFL Cup on 25 October following a 2–0 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
On 6 October 2016 Icelandic U19 defender Sindri Scheving joined Cirencester Town on a one-month loan deal.
November Reading began November with a 0–3 away win at Wigan Athletic, a result which saw them move up to 4th in the Championship. After the November international break, Reading recorded their fourth and fifth consecutive league wins, with 3–0 and 2–1 home victories against Burton Albion and Bristol City respectively, which saw them move up to 3rd in the league.
December On 2 December, young Scottish defender Zak Jules joined Braintree Town on a month-long loan deal. Reading's winning run ended on 3 December with a 5–0 away loss to Fulham, during which Danny Williams received a red card; Reading however remained at third place. On 10 December Reading returned to winning form with a 2–1 home win against Sheffield Wednesday, although this was short-lived with a 2–0 away loss at Leeds United three days later.
Two consecutive wins followed, with a 2–3 away victory at Blackburn Rovers on 17 December and a 3–1 home victory against Norwich City on 26 December, results which saw Reading retain their 3rd-place position. Reading's final match of 2016 was at home against Fulham on 30 December. The scoreless game was abandoned by officials at half time due to dense fog, with the rescheduled match due to take place on 24 January 2017.
On 23 December, Icelandic youth international Axel Andrésson joined Bath City on loan until 25 February 2017, whilst academy graduate Liam Kelly signed a new contract, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2019, on 30 December.
January Reading started 2017 with a 2–3 away win at Bristol City on 3 January. Trailing 2–0 until the final 20 minutes of the match, Reading scored three goals—including a stoppage-time strike by Kermogant—to ensure victory.