Chelsea have allowed promising youngster John Swift to join Reading on a permanent basis.
The 21-year-old midfielder has joined the Royals on a three-year contract with the option of a further 12 months, having only ever made one senior appearance for the club he joined as a 12-year-old.
Swift previously had loan spells at Rotherham United and Swindon Town where he failed to make an impact, but his form for Brentford last season proved to the Blues that he had plenty of potential.
He scored seven goals from midfield in 27 Championship appearances for the Bees, and completed his campaign by being part of of the England Under-21 team to win the Toulon Tournament in May.
But Chelsea have decided to let one their best homegrown talents go without giving him a first-team chance. Defender Tomas Kalas, who once started in a 2-0 Premier League victory over Liverpool, yesterday secured his eighth loan spell away from Stamford Bridge by joining rivals Fulham.
Reading are managed by ex-Manchester United defender Jaap Stam. If the two-time Champions League winger thinks that Swift is a player, this could be another who Chelsea have let slip through the net.
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