Reading FC hit the jackpot with free transfer raid from local rivals - He went on to become a cult hero | OneFootball

Reading FC hit the jackpot by signing Lewis Wing on a free transfer after he left Wycombe Wanderers.

Reading FC's raid of Wycombe Wanderers star Lewis Wing in 2023 certainly caught the eye of all of those in League One, and this signing would prove to be one of the best in the club's recent history.

When you think of the name Lewis Wing, many would instantly put him in the category of the very best midfielders in the third tier, and rightly so, given his contributions to both Reading and Wycombe in recent years.

The midfielder came through the door at Adams Park in January 2022 as a late deadline day signing, and would go on to become a key player for Wanderers over his 18-months in Buckinghamshire, with a whole host of stunning goals in his catalog.

However, off the back of a successful 2022/23 campaign, Wing wanted to move on to a new challenge when his contract expired. He was linked with Championship sides such as Queens Park Rangers and Preston North End, but ultimately ended up remaining in League One with Reading.

This was a real coup for the Royals, who were looking to bounce back after relegation to the third tier, and landed themselves one of the best midfielders in the division on a free.

Whilst they would ultimately end up stuck in League One, Wing would flourish for his new club, and end up earning cult hero status in Berkshire, as a reliable outlet of positivity in an extremely dark time for the club.

Lewis Wing found a new lease of life after moving to League One

After bursting onto the scene at Middlesbrough, and becoming a stalwart in the Championship side's midfield unit, Wing's career took somewhat of a nosedive over time, with loans at Rotherham United and Sheffield Wednesday proving to be failures.

The then-26-year-old had fallen out of favour at Hillsborough, and he'd become somewhat of a forgotten man in the EFL, until Wycombe made a deadline day swoop for his services in January 2022, ending his nightmare stint with the Owls.

Whilst his contributions in his first six months with Gareth Ainsworth's side were minimal, it would be the following season where Wing would remind everyone of his qualities once again, with a catalog of stunning performances and goals, ending the season as the club's joint-highest scorer, with nine league goals.

These performances had Championship sides on high alert as Wing neared the end of his contract, and with the decline of Wycombe under Matt Bloomfield after Ainsworth left, the midfielder decided to reject a new contract from the Buckinghamshire outfit, in favour of a new opportunity elsewhere.

With Ainsworth's QPR and Preston both linked with his services, everyone expected Wing to end up in the Championship to give the second tier another shot, but he would actually remain in League One, just 20 minutes down the road.

Despite Championship interest, recently relegated Reading pulled off a huge coup by bringing the former Wycombe star to the Select Car Leasing Stadium, in a move that was a bitter pill to swallow for Chairboys supporters.

Wing would make an instant impact in Berkshire, as he helped the financially troubled club avoid dropping into League Two by scoring 11 goals and chipping in with 11 assists in all competitions, which saw him scoop the club's Player of the Season award.

After another successful season in 2024/25, the 30-year-old was named club captain, and has earned a reputation as a fan favourite, thanks to his ridiculous catalog of screamers during his time in RG2.

Whilst it would be a stretch to call Reading and Wycombe rivals, the two sides certainly aren't the best of friends, and the relationship in recent years has been strained since Royals owner, Rob Couhig, tried to buy Reading's Bearwood Park whilst he owned the Chairboys.

It's certainly a game that both sets of fans would like to win more than the average fixture, just for local bragging rights, and when it comes to bragging rights, the Ding can say they had one over on Wanderers with the signing of Wing.

Having found his feet again at Adams Park, the Royals were quick to pounce when the midfielder became a free agent, and poached a player who had just hit the peak of his powers for free, which they have more than reaped the rewards from.

Not only has Wing brought Reading plenty of stunning goals and happy memories in recent years, but he's a cult hero at the club, leading them into a new era as club captain.

Whilst it's been a difficult few years for the Royals on and off the pitch, the signing of Wing is one of the most positive and memorable pieces of transfer business in the club's recent history.