Reading defender Omar Richards signs four-year deal with Bayern Munich

Reading defender Omar Richards has completed a long-awaited move to European champions Bayern Munich, signing a four-year deal in Bavaria effective this summer.

The Royals left-back has been a standout performer in an impressive season for the promotion-chasing side, and will see out the rest of the campaign before linking up with Bayern.

Richards had been pursued by Everton and West Ham among a host of Premier League sides, but it was reported earlier this year that Bayern were set to win the race, as they searched for competition to starting left-back Alphonso Davies.

They see Richards, who has made close to 100 senior appearances for Reading, as capable of competing for places at the very top of European football, and moved swiftly to bring him in on a pre-contract deal.

Reading will not be due compensation for the England Under-21 international, who turned 23 in February.

Though the deal has not yet been officially confirmed by either club, Sky Sports are reporting it is a done deal - but even that is simply confirmation of a transfer that has long been a foregone conclusion.

Richards has been one of the players of the Championship season, but he was released by Fulham as recently as 2013, where he had failed to impress as a midfielder in the Cottagers' academy.

Upon signing for Reading, he was converted into a left-back, and soon hit the ground running in the first-team. Since his Championship debut in 2017, he has earned comparisons to Manchester United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka for his combative, tough-tackling style.

He is technically proficient as well, however, and is a capable carrier and distributor of the ball - even if that doesn't necessarily reflect in his assist numbers.

Interest in his situation had spiked as he nears the end of the professional deal he signed back in 2017, but few could compete with Bayern, where he will replace the outgoing David Alaba and provide backup at left-back.