U21s Loan Duo's Deals to Become Permanent
Monday, 18th May 2026 15:19

Town are set to complete the permanent signings of U21s loanees Frankie Runham and Luca Fletcher.

Runham joined from Chelsea in January with the move becoming permanent from July 1st, clauses in the loan deal having been triggered.

The 19-year-old, an England U15, U16 and U18 international, joined Chelsea aged eight and operates primarily wide on the right but is also versatile and can play across the frontline or in central midfield. He is also a free-kick specialist.

Fletcher, also 19, joined the Blues on loan from Manchester City last summer. His switch will also become permanent on July 1st.

Reading-born Fletcher, who has been capped by England at U16 and U17 levels, started his career with his hometown club before moving on to City in 2023.

Primarily a central striker, he is also able to operate on the left and right.

Photo: Matchday Images

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Linkboy13 added 15:24 - May 18 Are these serious first team potential or will they be kicking around in the u21s all season ending up going out on loan.
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johnwarksshorts added 16:07 - May 18 Good luck to both of them.
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PortmanTerrorist added 16:11 - May 18

I suppose long gone are the days were if an Academy player had not made strides into the 1st Team by 18 then they likely never would. Having said that, we have no evidence to the contrary today and am sure something must change with our youth set up this year as even the biggest teams find space in their squads and 1st teams to blood young players. We have singularly failed to do that under the current management, which can be initially forgiven due to the reorganisation of the Youth set-up, but I think the time for excuses is gone and we must see some progression from youth to 1st team this coming season.

Will either of these talented young men make that step forward? I sincerely hope so. Good luck and congrats lads.

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Monkey_Blue added 16:18 - May 18

The ramping up of our youth system will take time to deliver. The impatience of some is based on a long gone era where good 18year olds got to play for the reserves and if they did well got on the bench for the first team. Man City have a great youth system but they have double the number of players or more and so 90% will go without a sniff of the bench in the league cup but with a sell on clause.

Bazza8564 added 16:30 - May 18 well I think I'm right in saying neither will count towards the 25 player limit, so let's hope we see a little bit of both of them this season. I too am concerned we will loan them and miss the opportunity to work directly with Kieran. Let's also not forget these guys are the same age as Sindre, so we can hope they won't be miles away from the squad
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jas0999 added 16:44 - May 18 Good luck to both of them!
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BerksBlue15 added 17:06 - May 18 Can't see too much not to like here unless we've paid a fortune for either of them. Fletcher for around £700k (unverified but what Google seems to suggest) feels like a relatively cheap roll of the dice compared to other fees these days.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 17:28 - May 18 Far easier to blood youth when your Man City, 3 -0 up and can bring them on for the last 10
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blues1 added 17:53 - May 18

Portmanterrorist. . Of course we havent had young players coming through from our academy under the present management. Bcse, in case you missed it, our youth system , like every other area of the club, failed miserably under Marcus Evans. Has taken until now to get category 1 status, hence we are able to sign players like these 2, which we couldn't have before. Will take time before we actually see the fruits of the vastly improved academy depth at the club.

armchaircritic59 added 18:43 - May 18 Best of luck to both. A poster mentioned above the reserve league we used to have years ago. I still mourn it's passing. A natural stepping stone for young players coming through the system and for injured first teamers on the comeback trail. A very shortsighted and mistaken loss in my opinion.
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NeedhamMarketKop added 18:51 - May 18 I read today that the U21's have had a good season - so this seems a natural progression pathway for both young players, best of luck for the future. Ps - they might even get a Carabao Cup sub appearance next season.
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Robert_Garrett added 19:32 - May 18

Frankie Runham 09.01.2007 only joined us in February from Chelsea U21and played 694 mins in 11 games scoring once and two assists. has been at Chelsea since 8 years old.
Luca Fletcher 18.04.2007 joined in September from Man city U21 played 1636 mins in 21 games scoring 9 with 3 assists. Man City paid Reading FC 700K for him in 2023.
Their playing stats are excellent and the fees are secretly negotiated. Good Luck to Both! Well worth the money and effort.
COYB !

Bazza8564 added 07:51 - May 19

Armchair, very rare for me to challenge you, but I think (whilst I agree with the sentiments around reserve team - Combination football) the demise was largely caused by the change in the regulations regarding 1st team substitutes, and the necessity to have (is it 9) on the bench, In the old days you could run 2 12s on the same day, now you can't because you would need 40+ pros, so the U21s (with an overage player or two), is the only real alternative.
Oh for the days in the 70s watching the reserves at Portman road on alternate weekends

Essexnblue added 08:46 - May 19 Both of these Two are sound investments, if some of the posters on here had seen them play then they may change there mind. Man City have so many good youngsters that some will slip through the net and Chelsea are not interested in the youth teams as they just buy for fun. Both good additions and better than what we currently have.
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PhuketPete added 11:31 - May 19

PL2 for u21’s plus overage players who don’t make the first team squad or are on their way back to fitness, is the new Combination. It’s decent quality and nationwide unlike the Combo.

They said I have fond memories of Reserve games. I’d play somewhere first then, straight after, hop on my bike down to PR, chain it to somewhere in the cattle market, then get in for Free when the turnstiles opened in the second half. I recall we had quite decent attendances back then (early 70’s).

PhuketPete added 11:31 - May 19

muccletonjoe added 13:06 - May 19 I have seen Fletcher play, impressive pace , strong for his age. Has all the building blocks in place. Just needs to keep improving / learning. May well get a chance in cup games .
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tractordamage added 17:18 - May 19

Ipswich fans:
"Let's follow the Brentford, Bournemouth, and Brighton model...and invest in youth players, and prospects that will provide profit, or players, later on. And might make us money via loan deals".

Also Ipswich fans:
"Oh jeez..why are we investing in youth players and prospects that should produce players, or profit, later on?!?! And might bring in money via loan deals?!?"

armchaircritic59 added 18:01 - May 19 tractordamage, we don't need to follow anyone's model exactly, just our own. It does make perfect sense to invest in a youth academy if you're not one of the so called " big clubs ", who can just buy their way to what they hope is success. The ideal is a balance between the two in my opinion, just like it was back in the successful SBR years.
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