Liverpool defender Tiago Ilori joins Jaap Stam’s Reading for £3.75m to strengthen promotion hopes
The Portuguese centre-back has joined the Championship promotion hopefuls
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TIAGO Ilori has completed his move from Liverpool to Reading for £3.75million.
The Portuguese centre-back, 23, joins the Championship club on a three-and-a-half year deal as boss Jaap Stam looks to boost the their promotion chances.
Jaap Stam has boosted his defence as they look to maintain their promotion bid for the remainder of the season. The Royals are currently fourth, two points behind third-placed Leeds United and eight points off Brighton who occupy the second automatic promotion spot.
Ilori hasn't made an appearance for Liverpool this season, but he find more opportunities at the Madejski Stadium.
Speaking to the official club website, Stam said: “Tiago is the type of defender a lot of people like - his technical skill, passing ability, pace, quality and physique. We always want players with those attributes within our squad.
“In this league, with all the games we need to play, you never know what’s going to happen with injuries and suspensions – so it’s also important we have options and the chance to rotate.
“And looking to the future, you need to seize the opportunity when players like Tiago are available, so we’re very happy that he will be joining us at Reading.”
Ilori, who joined Sporting's youth team in 2006, moved to Liverpool in 2013 for a fee reported to be £7million but hasn't had too many first team opportunities. Three loan moves to Granada, Bordeaux and Aston Villa followed before completing the move to Reading.
He has also represented Portugal at under-18 level through to the under-23's.
The defender could go straight into the squad to face fellow promotion hopefuls Derby County on Saturday.