Cambridge United have today completed the loan signing of Reading striker Sam Smith for the 2019/20 season.
The exciting youngster arrives at the Abbey hungry to add senior minutes and professional goals under his belt, and becomes a fourth forward option in Colin Calderwood's armoury for the upcoming campaign.
Smith began his career as a youth player within Manchester United's system before switching to the Madejski Stadium where he signed his first professional contract in 2017. He continued his development by becoming a potent goalscorer for Reading's Youth Team, and has also made eight first team appearances for the Royals.
The striker gathered further senior game time with a pair of loans at Oxford United and Shrewsbury Town last season, but found minutes limited on both occasions and arrives at the U's now with a determination to showcase his exciting potential.
Eager to get started in amber and black, Smith commented: "I'm really happy that the deal has been done and that I'm at the Club now.
"The gaffer (Colin Calderwood) understood my situation very quickly, he knows a lot about my career to date and it feels like I've been given a platform to prove what I can do. I hope to get the game time and I want to help push Cambridge United further up the League to where the Club wants to be this season.
"I love to run in behind defenders, to work hard and would say my strengths are based around my movement in and around the box. Having been out on loan before that has been a learning curve and I hope to bring all that to this Club."
The 21-year old has signed in time to be named in United's squad for the season opener against Bradford City at Valley Parade tomorrow afternoon.
Head Coach Colin Calderwood said: "Sam's been a historical target for the Club and has been on a list since before I joined Cambridge United. He will be the first to admit that he really has a point to prove and gain more game time than what he has previously experienced during his loans.
"I certainly like what I see in terms of the style of player and he brings a great amount of athleticism. He also brings with him a personal goal which I feel will help us as a team. Along with Andrew Dallas and Harvey Knibbs we have three young forwards that we can coach, educate and watch develop, which brings a nice balance to the more experienced aspect Jabo Ibehre adds."
Head of Football Ben Strang added: "There was a lot of interest in Sam, so we're delighted he has decided that we are the right club for a crucial next move in his development. He's incredibly driven to come here, score goals and have success; that came across strongly when we met him. He brings another threat to our forward line, which was an obvious target for the squad building this summer."
Andrew Dallas, George Maris and Sam Smith have all confirmed their place at the Abbey for the Next Chapter, you can too with a 2019/20 season ticket ahead of the first home game of the campaign against Newport County by clicking here.