Midfielder returns to St James Park on a permanent deal
EXETER CITY have completed the signing of Reading midfielder Jake Taylor.Twenty-four-year-old Taylor returns to the Grecians after a loan spell with the club that lasted for the majority of the 2011-12 season.
The twice-capped Welsh international spent the first part of the season on loan at Scottish Premiership side Motherwell, but he has now completed a permanent move to St James Park as he brings an end to a seventeen-year spell with the Royals.
City manager Paul Tisdale said: "He is a player we know very well with him having spent a season with us on loan four or five years ago. It is a good opportunity to keep building the squad ahead of next year, and he will come straight into the squad for Saturday.
"He is a very versatile player. He is a very bright player and he comes to us with good experience. He has been to quite a few clubs on loan; but obviously his major loan was with us, and I see it as it being a pretty smooth fit in terms of someone coming into the club. He knows us and we know him, and he will add going forward into next season as we are building the team.”
“He is 24, so he is a good fit all round. He is a good age. He has had a good upbringing at Reading, and he has good understanding from going to different League One and League Two clubs. We are looking to move the team forward and he is a very bright player., and he seems to fit the mould of attacking players that I’d like in the team.
“He played for us as a centre-forward before and then as an attacking midfield player, but he hasn’t been with us for quite a few years. He is a very bright player and he is an attacking player who can play in many different positions, and I’m sure we will find the right role for him with us. But, at the moment, he comes into the squad to add to what I’ve got, to bolster our attacking options. In the fullness of time I’m sure we will find the right role for him, but at the moment he comes in as an attacking player."
Speaking to Exeter City's official website, Jake said: "I came down here on loan a few years ago and played a few games, so I'm excited to have the chance to come back and hopefully play a few more. I think that having already been here, and knowing the manager and a few of the boys, played a big part. Working under Tis again will be good for me; he's done really well at the club, and that played a big part in me making the decision to come down here.
"I've been at Reading since I was eight, so it feels like I've been there all of my life. I'm looking forward to reaching out and experiencing something completely different. It may be an environment that I'm already familiar with, but it gives me a good platform. I watched the games against Liverpool, but I haven't watched much else this season, but I have followed the club since I've been here, and I've always looked to see how they are getting on.
"I'm an attacking player, and I like being involved in creating and scoring goals. If I can bring something to the team and help them push up the table, I'll be happy."
Jake will wear the number 38 shirt.