Following the revelation of the clubs’ retained squad lists, a number of EFL players were freed, including two former captains of Reading.
With League One and League Two concluded, relegation and survival in the bottom two tiers of professional football have been confirmed, except the eagerly awaited play-off campaigns.

While assembling their summer squads and anticipating the preseason, managers are already deciding which players who are not under contract to keep or let go.

Alex Pearce and

Alex Pearce

e, two former Royal captains, are among the hundreds let go thus far.
After rising through the ranks at Reading and making over 200 appearances for the team, the 35-year-old Pearce was named Player of the Season in 2011–12, the year the team was promoted to the Premier League, and he captained the Royals in the FA Cup semifinal at Wembley in 2015.

The Republic of Ireland international left in 2015 after spending time in the Championship with teams including Millwall and Derby County.

Dropping down to the fourth tier in 2022, Pearce played 39 times in two seasons- including 17 times in the season just gone.

In the meanwhile, Moore, 31, left Reading in the summer of 2022 and played eight games for Northampton Town in the last few months of the season.

The center defender had previously lived in Berkshire for seven years. He was named Player of the Season in 2018, although towards the end of his tenure, he struggled with injuries.

What is ahead for the two former well-known performers is still up in the air.

As negotiations continue with individuals whose contracts expire at the end of June, Reading has not yet disclosed its released and retained list.