Reading have added defensive cover for the first half of the League One season, signing centre-back Conor Masterson on a short-term contract understood to run until January.

The 27-year-old arrives on a free transfer after departing Gillingham in May, when his contract at Priestfield expired following three seasons with the Kent club. According to BBC Sport, Masterson made 124 appearances for the Gills after joining in 2022, establishing himself as one of the more experienced defenders at that level of the football pyramid.

Before his time at Gillingham, Masterson came through the academy at Liverpool, giving him a pedigree that League One supporters will recognise. He arrives at the Select Car Leasing Stadium as Reading's sixth addition of the summer window, bolstering a backline that head coach Leam Richardson has been looking to strengthen ahead of what is expected to be a competitive third-tier campaign.

Richardson pleased with Masterson's attitude in training

Richardson revealed that the signing had developed organically, with Masterson initially joining the club to train and maintain his fitness while he remained without a club following his Gillingham departure.

"Conor initially came in to train with us and keep himself fit," Richardson said, as quoted by BBC Sport. "He's been excellent since he walked through the door. His attitude, his professionalism and the level he's shown every day in training have really impressed us and over that period the situation has developed."

The head coach also highlighted what Masterson brings to the dressing room beyond his on-pitch qualities. "He's got a lot of experience and he's a very good character to have around the group," Richardson added.

It is the kind of signing that speaks to Richardson's pragmatic approach to squad-building. With the contract running only until January, Reading retain flexibility to reassess the arrangement in the winter window, either extending Masterson's stay if he has impressed or allowing both parties to move on.

Context: Reading's summer business

Masterson becomes the latest piece in a summer recruitment drive that has seen Richardson shape the squad in his own image since arriving at the club. Earlier additions have included George Earthy from West Ham, and supporters will be hopeful that the cumulative effect of the summer's business translates into a genuine push at the top end of the League One table.

Reading's early-season performances have attracted scrutiny, with the question of whether the club's evident quality can be converted into consistent results a recurring theme among supporters and pundits alike. Masterson, with well over 100 senior appearances in the third tier to his name, is understood to bring the kind of composure and reading of the game that Richardson prizes at the back.

The precise structure of the deal, including any option to extend beyond January, has not been disclosed publicly. What is clear is that Masterson arrives with something to prove, having been released after Gillingham's own difficult period, and with a League One club offering him the platform to rebuild his profile in the second half of the season.

Richardson's decision to trial Masterson in training before committing to a contract is a sensible piece of due diligence, and the fact the situation "developed" into a signing suggests the centre-back passed that informal audition comfortably. Reading fans will now be hoping he can bring similar consistency to competitive fixtures.

Frequently asked

Where did Conor Masterson play before joining Reading?
Masterson most recently played for Gillingham, where he made 124 appearances across three seasons before his contract expired in May. Before that, he came through the Liverpool academy.
How long is Conor Masterson's contract at Reading?
Masterson has signed a short-term deal understood to run until January, according to BBC Sport. Any extension beyond that point has not been confirmed publicly.
How many signings have Reading made this summer?
Masterson is reported to be Reading's sixth addition of the summer transfer window, joining a squad being shaped by head coach Leam Richardson ahead of the League One season.