Reading have completed the signing of Stoke captain Michael Duberry for an undisclosed fee.
The 31-year-old central defender has signed a one-and-a-half-year contract to
the summer of 2008,
The Royals have been able to take advantage of a clause in Duberry's contract
with the Championship side which allows him to move to a Premiership club.
Royals director of football Nick Hammond said: 'Michael is a very experienced
centre-half who has played at the highest level, including nearly 150
Premiership appearances and a European final.
'This season he has captained a Stoke team which has the best defensive
record in the Championship, and we think this is a very sensible signing which
gives us additional quality as we enter the final stages of the season.'
Chairman John Madejski added: 'I'd like to welcome Michael to Reading. He is
a high calibre performer who has been in excellent form this season and will add
experience to our squad.
'This completes a busy period of activity for us in the transfer window and
we are very satisfied with the deals we have secured.'
Duberry started his career with Chelsea - where he gained a winners medal in
the European Cup Winners' Cup - and later had a five-year spell with Leeds
before joining Stoke in October 2004.
