Reading receive record fee for Doyle

Reading's Kevin Doyle has joined Wolverhampton Wanderers for a club record fee believed to be £6.5m.

The Royals paid a nominal amount to sign Doyle from Irish side Cork City in the summer of 2005 and he now goes to the Premier League in a deal that represents excellent business for the club.

Director of football Nick Hammond explained: "Kevin has been a fantastic player for our club and first of all I would like to wish him every success in his future career.

"He has arguably been one of the club's best ever signings, in terms of what he produced on the pitch, the value for money he gave us and now the fact he has been sold for a club record fee.

"On top of that, Kevin showed his commitment to us last season when he stayed after our relegation. We all recognise that he is a Premier League player and it was a real coup we were able to keep him.

"So with this deal in place now, the point in time arrived where it was the right opportunity for him and the right deal for the club as well.

"I have already offered my best wishes and I am sure the supporters will be doing the same to a player who rightly earned their respect.

"Lastly, it is important from my own point of view to say that Wolves, and in particular their chief executive Jez Moxey, have been a pleasure to deal with and very straightforward. They have got themselves a top player."

Irishman Doyle, 25, played 146 games for Reading in four years, scoring 55 goals along the way.

His time at Reading saw him earn his first caps for Ireland, and he soon became a first choice for his country, winning 25 caps in total and scoring six goals.

He has signed a four-year contract at Molineux.