Shane Long joins West Bromwich Albion from Reading
- Published
Long played in the Premier League with Reading between 2006-08
West Bromwich Albion have completed the signing of Republic of Ireland striker Shane Long from Reading.
No fee has been disclosed for the 24-year-old who has signed a three-year contract at the Hawthorns.
Long, who was also benig chased by Leicester, external, scored 25 goals for Reading last season as the club lost to Swansea in the Championship play-off final.
Baggies manager Roy Hodgson said: "He is a goalscorer and a hard-working player who has a very good attitude."
"The great thing about him is that even though he is still only 24 he has six years' worth of experience of Premier League, Championship and international football and has margin for improvement in his game.
"With the signing of Shane, our squad is looking close to being complete."
Long is Hodgson's sixth signing ahead of the new Premier League season.
Ben Foster, external, Zoltan Gera, external, Billy Jones, external, Gareth McAuley, external and Marton Fulop, external have all joined Hodgson's squad as the former Fulham and Liverpool manager aims to improve on last season's 11th place finish.
West Brom start their campaign at home to champions Manchester United on Sunday.
Long was in the final year of his contract at the Madejski stadium and would have become a free agent next summer. Reading manager Brian McDermott scouted Long as a teenager and was instrumental in bringing him to Reading from Cork City in 2005.
McDermott said: "West Bromwich Albion and Roy Hodgson are very lucky to get Shane and I'm sure their fans will see what a great talent he is and how hard he'll work for the team.
"We'll miss him as a player and a person."
Long scored 54 goals in 200 appearances for Reading and made his Republic of Ireland debut against San Marino in 2007. He has won 21 full caps, scoring six goals.