Reading Finally Have Their New Striker: Mark O’Mahony

The young Irishman’s joined on loan for the season from Brighton & Hove Albion.

Centre-forward has been a big gap in Reading’s squad for a little while now, with that dearth only growing more problematic this summer. Having formerly been able to call on an established striker in Sam Smith, then a younger one in Jayden Wareham, Noel Hunt found himself with no recognised options in this department following the latter’s recent departure for Exeter City.

However, he now has a new number nine for the duration of 2025/26. The Royals have today loaned in Mark O’Mahony, a 20-year-old striker, from Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion. He’s Reading’s fourth signing of the summer (following the arrival of Jack Stevens, Paudie O’Connor and Matty Jacob), but the first attacking addition.

This transfer appears to have moved pretty quickly. Reading were first linked with O’Mahony on July 4, before it was reported on July 7 that he was set for a medical. Hunt had hinted straight after the Hungerford Town friendly (July 5) at imminent signings, so perhaps he was referring to O’Mahony.

O’Mahony started his career by spending time at a couple of clubs in County Cork. After a spell at Carrigaline United he moved onto Cork City in 2019, before heading over to Brighton four years later.

While the bulk of his game has been in the Seagulls’ academy (14 goals in 25 for their under-21s side), he’s appeared a handful of times in their first team too. That constitutes three Premier League games in 2023/24 - bench appearances against Burnley and Manchester City and a start against Bournemouth - and one match in the League Cup. That outing actually was when O’Mahony opened his account for Brighton, netting once in a 4-0 win over Crawley Town.

O’Mahony got his first taste of regular senior football when he went out on loan to Championship side Portsmouth last season. He played 13 times in what was ultimately an injury-hit campaign, but his strike rate of three goals in 592 minutes was pretty solid. Even better, that included him netting home and away against Oxford United.

Reading hopefully won’t be done for striker signings. Though Basil Tuma looked sharp against Hungerford at the weekend and Jeremiah Okine-Peters also scored from the same position, at least one more option up top would be very useful - we can’t rely on O’Mahony for the full season.

I’d add a backup for O’Mahony to the squad - someone capable of playing a decent amount of football, to take the burden off him. Hopefully they’d be fairly experienced too. And then another centre-forward to make it three in total (excluding Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan if he re-signs) would be ideal, although this addition could be a younger player generally getting game time at under-21 level - think Wareham in 2023/24.