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Defender Clinton Mola and midfielder Sam Hutchinson are among four players released by Reading after the 2023-24 season.

Left-backs Nesta Guinness-Walker and Matty Carson are also not staying with the League One club.

Reading have opened talks with defender Kelvin Abrefa and midfielder Tivonge Rushesha over new contract offers to stay.

Mola made 36 appearances in all competitions this season after joining as a free agent last September.

Hutchinson joined Reading in the summer of 2022 but injuries have limited him to only 26 games across the last two campaigns.

The Royals have activated one-year extensions on contracts for Femi Azeez and Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan - who both scored nine goals this campaign - as well as Michael Craig, Jeriel Dorsett, Joel Pereira and Jayden Wareham.

Reading finished the 2023-24 season 17th in the League One table.

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Reading say the club has entered talks with new bidders after failing to agree a sale with their preferred buyer.

The Royals entered a period of exclusivity with an unnamed party in March after owner Dai Yongge committed to a letter of intent.

BBC Radio Berkshire revealed that period had lapsed on 22 May and the club has today confirmed it is speaking to new potential suitors, as well as the party that previously had exclusivity.

The club said Mr Dai aimed to complete the sale "at the earliest opportunity" in a statement on its website., external

The Royals finished the League One season safe in 17th place despite Ruben Selles' side having six points deducted for financial breaches.

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Reading defender Kelvin Abrefa has signed a new two-year deal with the League One club.

The right-back has been at the Royals since 2017 and made 13 appearances in all competitions last season.

"We’re delighted to secure Kelvin to a new two-year contract," said head of football operations Mark Bowen.

"There was, understandably, plenty of external interest in him so we’re very happy that Kelvin's chosen to continue his development as a Reading Player.”

Royals fan group wants 'commitment' to women's team

The Royals will begin their upcoming League One campaign away to Birmingham City on 10 August.

They still remain in discussions with multiple interested buyers as they look to complete the sale of the club to a new ownership.

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The attempted takeover of Reading by former Wycombe Wanderers owner Rob Couhig has fallen through after a breakdown in negotiations.

American lawyer and businessman Couhig had a long period of exclusivity with the League One club's current owner Dai Yongge but was unable to finalise an agreement.

A club statement said "alternative options" would now be pursued.

"Mr Dai remains committed to the sale of Reading Football Club and provisions are in place to fund the club until a transaction is completed," the statement continued.

"The club acknowledges and appreciates the financial support provided by the potential purchaser during recent months. All loans have now been paid back to the potential purchaser in full along with the accrued interest."

BBC Radio Berkshire understands money received from a sell-on clause in the contract of former player Michael Olise, who joined Bayern Munich in the summer, is helping to keep the club financially stable for now.

Reading's recent financial difficulties under Yongge meant the club's women's side - a Women's Super League outfit as recently as May 2023 - had to withdraw from the Championship in June, and they will start next season in the fifth tier.

The club were also docked six points for financial issues last season as they finished 17th in League One.

The Royals are currently 12th in England's third tier after five games, picking up two wins, two defeats and a draw.

Reading head coach Ruben Selles said he expected the takeover of the club to be completed "months ago."

Years of turmoil under Yongge
Yongge and his sister Dai Xiu Li completed their takeover of Reading in May 2017 shortly before the club lost the Championship play-off final on penalties to Huddersfield Town.

That proved to be the high point of their time in charge of the Royals.

A seventh-placed finish in the 2020-21 season was Reading's only top-half league finish under Yongge as financial problems began to bite.

They were first deducted six points by the English Football League for breaching profit and sustainability rules in November 2021.

A further six-point penalty followed in April 2023 for failing to comply with the terms of an agreed business plan for the previous breach, contributing to their relegation from the Championship at the end of that season.

The club were placed under a series of transfer embargoes, and were deducted another six points last season for a combination of failing to pay wages and a tax bill on time.

In total, Reading have been deducted 18 points under Yongge's ownership.

Fans carried out a series of protests last season, including throwing tennis balls on to the pitch at games, and their home game against Port Vale in January was abandoned after hundreds of fans invaded the pitch.

The club's financial problems led to Yongge putting the club up for sale, which also impacted the women's side, who finished 10th out of 12 teams in the Championship last season.

In announcing the women's team's withdrawal from the second tier, Reading said that maintaining the side's status was "just not possible without significant owner funding".

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Reading have entered into a new period of exclusivity with an unnamed buyer - on the same day the club has been handed a fresh transfer embargo by the English Football League.

The stricken League One club has suffered from fines, points deductions and fan protests during Dai Yongge's tumultuous reign as owner and had a previous transfer ban lifted in August 2023.

In a statement on the club's website,, external Reading said the new embargo was due to "the late filing of financial accounts to Companies House, and relates to the 2022-23 accounting period".

Reading added they believed the embargo would be lifted once the overdue accounts are finalised, which they hoped would happen "at the earliest opportunity".

The Royals were relegated to League One in 2022-23 and have been deducted 18 points overall during Chinese businessman Dai's tenure as owner.

A deal for former Wycombe Wanderers owner Rob Couhig to buy the club fell through last month after an agreement could not be reached.

"The club can confirm it has agreed to a period of exclusivity with a potential purchaser," the statement added.

"Both parties are working hard to finalise terms with the intention to complete a sale at the earliest opportunity.

"This exclusivity period also includes further provision to fund the club until the transaction's intended completion.

"The proposed sale will include Mr Dai's shareholding in Reading Football Club Limited, as well as the Select Car Leasing Stadium and Bearwood Park Training Ground.".

That proved to be the high point of their time in charge of the Royals.

A seventh-placed finish in the 2020-21 season was Reading's only top-half league finish under Yongge as financial problems began to bite.

Supporters carried out a series of protests last season and the home game against Port Vale in January was abandoned after hundreds of fans invaded the pitch.

The club's financial problems led to Yongge putting the club up for sale, which also impacted the women's side, who finished 10th out of 12 teams in the Championship last season.

Ex-Wycombe owner Couhig's unsuccessful attempt to purchase the club ended last month.