SAINTS left-back Joseph Mills has signed a one-year contract with Reading.

The 21-year-old defender had been on the lookout for a new club after falling out of the first-team reckoning at St Mary's.

Mills did not receive a squad number this season, despite having impressed during a loan spell at Championship side Doncaster last term.

However, with Dan Harding, Ryan Dickson and now new signing Danny Fox ahead of him in the pecking order at Saints, opportunities were always going to be hard to come by.

And Mills will hope the switch to the Madejski Stadium can re-energise his career.

Reading have confirmed that they hold an option to extend his deal for a further year if they wish. The financial terms of the move have not been disclosed.