EPL Transfer News: Reading Complete Twin Signings

Jul 18, 2012 12:11 AM EDT

Reading completed their fifth and sixth signings of the season. After announcing the capture of Adrian Mariappa from Watford earlier on Tuesday, the newly-promoted side confirmed the signing of Chris Gunter from Nottingham Forest.

Both players signed three-year contracts and joined for an undisclosed fee, although Reading revealed they had paid a "significant amount" for the duo.

The former Tottenham and Cardiff right-back Gunter, said he was really looking forward to the opportunity.

"Having spoken to the manager, (director of football) Nick Hammond and now the chairman today, everyone has made me feel really welcome and I'm really looking forward to this opportunity," Gunter told the club's official website.

"If you form a team spirit, a togetherness, you'll always do well -- and if you work hard you'll get your rewards.

"Reading have certainly done that in the last few years. Hopefully that can carry on. Right now, I need to focus on impressing everyone at this club and I'm really excited to get going."

Reading manager Brian McDermott was understandably delighted with the signing.

"I'm absolutely delighted that Chris has signed. He was very, very keen to come to us and is another player who is young and very hungry. He's already played more than 200 games at club level, plus another 37 for his country, which is phenomenal for someone so young.

"Chris already knows our club well, knows our Welsh players and I also know he met many of our squad over the summer too.

"As with all the players we have brought in this summer they will improve and get better, and the most important thing is their hunger and desire. With all the business we've done this summer we think we've improved the quality in the squad considerably."

Mariappa, who has spent his entire career with Watford, said he couldn't wait to play in the "best league in the world."

"It's a great feeling to have signed. The Premier League is the best in the world, I'm delighted to have the opportunity to come here, try to work my way into the team and perform for Reading."

"I'm delighted to get the deal to sign Aidy over the line, we have been chasing him all summer," McDermott added.

"He's been a very important player for Watford over a number of years, he is well known to most of our players already and also the staff here.

"Every single person I have spoken to about him has nothing but good things to say about him both as a player and as a person."

Gunter and Mariappa follow the signings of Pavel Pogrebnyak, Nicky Shorey, Danny Guthrie and Garath McCleary this summer.

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