Reading have confirmed that defender Jake Cooper has put pen to paper on a new contract that will keep him at the Madejski Stadium until the summer of 2018.

The 20-year-old centre-back came through the Royals' youth ranks to make his first team breakthrough for the club last season, and clocked up a total of 19 appearances in 2014-15.

Royals boss Steve Clarke told the official Reading website: "Jake Cooper is yet another product of the Reading Academy system and I'm very pleased that he has committed his future to the club.

"He has already shown that he has the ability to play in the first team here and is one of four very good central defenders that we have at the club.

"With the sale of Michael Hector to Chelsea, it was very important to secure Jake on a longer contract as I'm sure he will be a valued player for this club now and in the future."

Cooper joined Reading's academy aged 14 and went on to sign his first professional contract with the club in June 2013.