THE latest crop of talented Reading FC youngsters have signed professional contracts.

All rose through the Royals Academy after impressing throughout the youth age groups.

One of the key players to put pen to paper this week was goalkeeper George Legg.

The 21-year-old got some much-needed experience under his belt with non-league Hungerford Town last season.

He was also involved with Jaap Stam's squad on two occasions for Championship matches against Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds towards the end of the campaign.

Legg also benefited from previous loan stints with Chesham and Gosport Borough and has featured for Martin Kuhl's Royals U23 side.

Iceland Under 19 international Axel Andresson and Andrija Novakovich, last season's leading scorer for the U23s, have also signed pro forms, with Novakovich set to spend the next campaign on loan with Dutch club Telstar.

Bracknell News:

Andrija Novakovich has joined Telstar on loan.

Striker Sam Smith and midfielder Ryan East are also on board along with Jake Sheppard and Lewis Ward.

Defender Sheppard spent time on loan with Dagenham & Redbridge while goalkeeper Ward went to Margate and Hungerford.

Andy Rinomhota, an U23 regular last season following his move from AFC Portchester in 2015, is also among those to sign a new deal.

The new professionals joins a host of youngsters who impressed for the Under 18s last season and were rewarded with deals earlier this year.

They include Tyler Frost, Teddy Howe, Ramarni Medford-Smith and Jordan Holsgrove.

The group will be joined by Liam Driscoll, Ben House, Joel Rollinson and Ade Shokunbi, all of whom move into the U23 squad, while Ethan Coleman, Tom Holmes and Kosta Sparta turned professional recently even before the second year of their scholarships begins.