Reading FC secures new owners as sale is agreed

Rob Couhig has finalised an agreement to purchase Reading FC, acquiring ownership from Dai Yongge in a deal that includes the club’s stadium and training ground.

Couhig has finalised an agreement to acquire the EFL League One football club from Dai Yongge, which incorporates the incumbent owner’s shares, the Select Car Leasing Stadium, and the Bearwood Park training ground.

The agreement has brought to an end Yongge’s tenure, which began in 2017, and follows his disqualification under the English Football League (EFL) owners’ and directors’ test. The EFL has extended its divestment deadline to 8 May to allow for legal completion of the transaction. Reading has stated that final legal formalities remain, but the deal is expected to be completed shortly.

Reading, currently competing in League One, finished 17th last season after receiving a six-point deduction due to financial breaches. The club’s women’s side, which had competed in the Women’s Super League until May 2023, withdrew from the Championship in June and now plays in the fifth tier.

Prior to this deal, Couhig’s earlier attempt to purchase the club collapsed in September 2024 following a breakdown in negotiations. In March, a legal dispute emerged when Yongge sought an injunction against Couhig, alleging interference with the sale process, which Couhig denied. The club had also been engaged in exclusive talks with another unnamed party, but those discussions ended in early April.

The EFL is expected to assess the completion of the sale at its upcoming board meeting.