Billy Bodin Joins Reading On Loan From Burton Albion

The Welshman comes in to replace fellow forward Sam Smith.

Say hello to Reading’s second (and probably final) new signing of 2024/25: Billy Bodin. The 32-year-old forward has arrived on loan from fellow League One side Burton Albion until the end of the season.

Bodin fills the gap in the squad left by Sam Smith, who was sold for £2m to Wrexham last week. It wasn’t a given that the Royals would be able to get a replacement in at all, with the EFL needing to give permission for any signings to be made as Reading are still to file their accounts for 2022/23. That’s been overdue since last summer.

Permission has been forthcoming though, and Bodin joins Chem Campbell in moving to Reading on loan this season. Seemingly the EFL are happy to let us bring in players, but only if those players specifically are Welsh forwards... Gareth Bale, anyone?

Noel Hunt said:

“I’m really pleased to bring Billy into the squad for the rest of the season. He’s an experienced player who knows this league well and has proven his quality over the years.

“He’ll give us another attacking option, with his work rate, creativity and eye for goal will be a real asset to the team. We’re looking forward to working with him.”

Bodin is surplus to requirements at Burton Albion, who he joined in the summer on a free transfer from Oxford United. As Brewers fan David said on Twitter:

“Started like a house on fire for us, but then picked up an injury at the end of August and wasn’t able to get back into the side. We’ve strengthened in his position and it feels like he isn’t able to get into the side now.”

The Welshman has managed four goals in 12 League One appearances this season. However, three of those came in the first two matches of the season, and he’s not played in more than one game consecutively since late November.

Normally (with all due respect), replacing one of the divisions highest scorers with someone who’s been unable to get regular game time for a relegation-battling side (albeit one that recently beat us) wouldn’t be that encouraging. But with funds so tight, not a lot of the window left in which to look for signings, and Reading hardly the most appealing prospect at the moment for players, I’d say we’ve done as well as we realistically could.

And Bodin certainly brings positives to the squad. First and foremost he’s experienced, having racked up north of 300 appearances across League Two, League One and the Championship. That’s a valuable commodity at any time, and certainly for a squad as young as this one.

He also has end product, doing well in that regard last season for Oxford United. Bodin managed five goals and four assists despite not playing all that much, having also netted half a dozen times in each of his previous two league campaigns at the Kassam.

Bodin is also versatile, seemingly able to operate out wide or through the middle. So it’ll be interesting to see how the Royals intend on using him, with a few others (Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan, Jayden Wareham, Mamadi Camara and Campbell) all also able to fill different roles.

Welcome to the mad house Reading Billy!