Reading have completed the signing of the Watford defender Adrian Mariappa on a three-year deal, having paid "a significant fee" for the 25-year-old's services.
The centre-back was linked with a move away from the Championship club in January, when advances from Newcastle United and Wigan Athletic were both thwarted. But Mariappa has now left Vicarage Road to join the newly promoted Premier League side.
"It's a great feeling to have signed," Mariappa told the club's website. "The Premier League is the best in the world, I'm delighted to have the opportunity to come here, try to work my way into the team and perform for Reading Football Club."
Mariappa becomes the Royals' fifth summer signing, following the additions of Pavel Pogrebnyak, Nicky Shorey, Danny Guthrie and Garath McCleary, while the Nottingham Forest right-back Chris Gunter is considered likely to become No6. The Reading manager, Brian McDermott, was pleased with his latest acquisition and backed the Jamaica international to shine at the Madejski Stadium.
"I'm delighted to get the deal to sign Aidy over the line, we have been chasing him all summer," he said. "He's been a very important player for Watford over a number of years, he is well known to most of our players already and also the staff here. Every single person I have spoken to about him has nothing but good things to say about him both as a player and as a person."
The move is the first of Mariappa's career, coming after he made almost 250 appearances for Watford. The Harrow-born defender came through the ranks at the Hornets under the tutelage of Nigel Gibbs, Chris Cummins and David Dodds, who are now all part of Reading's backroom staff.
Mariappa, who made his debut in 2005, established himself as a key player for the Hertfordshire side and was awarded the players' player and player of the season awards last term.
Watford confirmed the departure of Mariappa, "for a significant undisclosed fee". "The deal has now been formally completed and everyone at Watford Football Club – which, for certain, includes all Hornets' supporters – wishes the home-grown defender well for his future football career."