Reading have signed Jimmy Kebe from French club Lens. The Malian winger has been assigned the squad number 30, and Nicky Hammond has expressed his delight at what he feels may be a notable coup.

The 24 year old is set to sign a two and a half year deal, keeping him at the club until 2010.

Nicky Hammond, Reading's Director of Football, told ReadingFC.co.uk, 'Jimmy is a winger who has a bit of pace and is a good size at more than six feet tall. He is right footed but is comfortable on both wings.'

Kebe is currently on loan at French Second Division side US Boulogne, but Hammond is confident the player can make the big step up to the English top flight.

He said, 'Obviously it's a massive step up from that level to the English Premier League. But the same could have been said for a number of our players when they first came to the Club.'