Kenyan winger Masika completes move to English Championship side

Royals complete loan move for winger Ayub Masika [PHOTO COURTESY READING FC]

English Championship side Reading FC have confirmed the signing of Harambee Stars winger Ayub Timbe on loan from Chinese side Beijing Renhe until the end of the 2019-20 campaign.

According to the club’s official site, Masika has been training with Mark Bowen’s first team on the Hogwood Park pitches in recent weeks and has impressed to earn a loan move which will end in June 2020.

 “Reading Football Club are pleased to announce that winger Ayub Masika has agreed to join the Royals on loan from Beijing Renhe until the end of the season,’’ read the statement on the Royals website.

“Masika has been training with Mark Bowen’s first team on the Hogwood Park pitches in recent weeks and has impressed to earn a loan move to RG2 which will end in June 2020.”

???????? Ayub Masika is a Royal!

Our new winger discusses his move to Reading, his style of play, and ambitions for the season...

Welcome, Masika! pic.twitter.com/7eHp9tKBgE

— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) February 1, 2020

Royals manager Mark Bowen also applauded Timbe for his amazing talent: “Masika is a precocious talent with real speed that means he can hurt the opposition in good areas of the field. We’ve had a look at him in training over recent weeks and he’s shown good qualities."

“He’s catching up on his fitness a little bit with the Chinese league being out of season at the moment, but I think he can be a real asset to us and I’m delighted to have him here.”

Following his transfer, Timbe, who was born in Nairobi but is also a Belgian citizen, took to Instagram to officially announce his loan departure from Chinese side Beijing Renhe.

"New home,New family. A new and exciting Challange @readingfc," he wrote.

The 27-year-old started his footballing career at Anderlecht from the age of 13 and continued his footballing education in the youth ranks of Beerschot AC before signing professional terms at Genk in 2010, according to Reading FC website.

???????? Ayub Masika is a Royal!

Our new winger discusses his move to Reading, his style of play, and ambitions for the season...

Welcome, Masika! pic.twitter.com/7eHp9tKBgE — Reading FC (@ReadingFC) February 1, 2020

At Genk, he played alongside Kevin De Bruyne and Christian Benteke and scored his first goal in a Europa League qualifying clash against FC Luzern in August 2012.

Masika went on loan to Lierse in 2014 and made the move permanent two years later, before taking up a new challenge with a transfer to the Chinese capital and Beijing Renhe in 2017.

 The website adds that in the Far East he was in fine form in front of goal, reaching double figures during his spells at Renhe and on loan with Heilongjiang FC in China.