Jamaica international Michael Hector (yellow jersey) was transferred to Chelsea from Reading on September 1, 2015. (Photo: Mexsport)
LONDON – European power Chelsea announced Tuesday that it has signed Jamaica international Michael Hector to a five-year deal from Reading.
As part of the agreement, the 23-year-old defender was loaned back to the English Championship side for the remainder of the 2015/16 season.
Hector, who was born in London, started his career in the Millwall youth ranks and then joined the Reading academy in 2009.
Prior to making his Reading debut in January 2014, Hector was loaned to numerous clubs, including Barnet, Shrewsbury Town, Aldershot Town and Cheltenham Town, as well as Ireland’s Dundalk and Aberdeen of Scotland.
Last season, he became an established component of the Reading defence, making 49 appearances in all competitions and scoring three goals.
Hector started all three of Jamaica’s matches at the 2015 Copa America and, afterwards, was instrumental in the Reggae Boyz’s runner-up finish in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. In that competition, he appeared in four games, including the historic 2-1 semifinal win over the United States and the 3-1 loss to Mexico in the final.
