FORMER Birmingham City skipper Michael Morrison has signed two-year deal with Reading.

A strong, powerful presence at the back, Morrison already has in excess of 500 professional appearances on his football CV.

He will add valuable experience to the heart of our defence as a proven leader at this level, both on and off the pitch.

Morrison began his career with Cambridge United and was named Young Player of the Year for three successive seasons at the Abbey Stadium as the England C international came through the United youth ranks.

He made a move to Leicester City in 2008 and helped Nigel Pearson’s men achieve promotion to the Championship, winning the third tier title in his first full season as a Fox.

And to cap a fantastic campaign for Morrison, the defender scored twice against Scunthorpe United on the night that City received the trophy!

A short spell at Sheffield Wednesday preceded a move to Charlton Athletic in 2011.

His first season at the Valley also ended in promotion as the Addicks returned to the Championship as title-winners following a 101-point haul in 2011-12.

Morrison also claimed a position in the PFA League One Team of the Year that season, alongside the likes of fellow representatives Harry Maguire (Sheffield United) and Jordan Rhodes (Huddersfield Town) - not to mention two former Royals, Ben Hamer in goal and Stephen Quinn in midfield.

Adopting a vice-captain’s role at Athletic, Morrison was a regular on the teamsheet before a loan move to Birmingham City was made permanent in January 2015 and in four-and-a-half years with the Blues he totted up 183 appearances across all competitions, scoring 15 goals.

Many of those appearances were made sporting the captain’s armband at St Andrew’s, having been appointed as skipper at the start of the Blues' 2015/16 campaign.

The 31-year-old made 44 appearances for City last season, scoring seven times. He declined the offer of a new contract at Birmingham in the summer in search of a new challenge. That new challenge now begins as a Royal.

Chief Executive Nigel Howe said: “It was important we bolstered the defensive options available to José and, a two-time title winner who has captained a club in the Championship for the last four campaigns, Michael will be key in achieving a successful balance between youth and experience at Reading. I am very pleased to welcome Michael to our club.”