Nelson Oliveira (Finally) Joins Reading

The Royals have a new striker.

Nelson Oliveira has become Reading’s third signing of the January transfer window, joining on loan from Norwich City until the end of the season. The Royals have been in desperate need of goals and quality in the final third, and we’ll hopefully get that in Oliveira.

The 27 year-old has a decent scoring record in the Championship after spells at Nottingham Forest (9 goals in 28) and Norwich (19 in 65). However, after a falling out with Canaries boss Daniel Farke, he’s been well out of favour at Carrow Road. With City riding high in the league, a move to Berkshire for a striker who’s yet to play this season makes sense.

His transfer also brings to an end a drawn-out mini transfer saga. Reading were strongly linked with Oliveira in the summer of 2017, but a move didn’t go through. His name has since come up in pretty much every transfer window since.

New boss Jose Gomes is a big fan of his compatriot, and admitted after the Derby County defeat that he’s well-acquainted with Oliveira’s qualities. It’s also worth noting that Oliveira played at Gomes’ former club Rio Ave, albeit not at the same time.

Gomes said about the transfer:

“Nélson is a striker who certainly possesses that vital killer instinct. He is strong, powerful and technically good with the ball at his feet. And he thrives on scoring goals. So we are delighted he has chosen to join us for the final 18 games of our season.”

While chief executive Nigel Howe added:

“Nélson is an exciting striker whom we have admired from afar for a number of years now. He has international pedigree, experience of European football has played in the top tier in his native Portugal, Spain, France and the United Kingdom. Crucially, he has also flourished in front of goal at Championship level, so I look forward to seeing him represent the Royals for the remainder of the campaign.”