Mikkel Andersen has joined Danish side FC Midtjylland, the club have confirmed.

Andersen leaves Reading after eight years with the club, penning a two-year deal with the reigning Danish Superliga champions and joining on a free transfer after he came to the end of his current contract with the Royals.

The 26-year-old spent his time at the Madejski as a second-choice goalkeeper, and only made his debut for the club in the season just gone, playing three league games, one FA Cup match and featuring in the League Cup on one occasion too.

Andersen is grateful for his development

Yet, he feels he learned plenty during his time at the Madejski, and said in an interview with Midtjylland's official website that the "special football culture in England...supports a winning mentality" and that he has developed this himself over the last eight years.

He, therefore, expects to bring "freshness and new energy to FC Midtjylland," and believes he has now got the "resilience and a necessary cynicism to succeed."

Still, Andersen will have his work cut out for him at his new club again, with Johan Dahlin having established himself as FC Midtjylland's number one goalkeeper. The former Danish youth international will be fighting for a place, but will this time hope to be more successful in the battle.

FC Midtjylland's sporting director, Claus Steinleins, told the club's website that Andersen "knows his role" and that "Dahlin is in front of him," but that the player has been assured he will find "fair competition", and he is willing to "take up the fight" as a result. Steinleins also had plenty of positives to say about the new signing, calling Andersen "a great talent and a good player" that the club are aiming to "develop...further."

The keeper has done the rounds in England

Andersen made a total of five appearances for Reading during his time with the club, mainly spending his years on loan elsewhere. He featured for seven different clubs, six in the Football League, including Bristol Rovers, for whom he made 61 appearances over two season-long loans between 2009 and 2011.

He spent time in Denmark in the 2013-14 season with Randers, making 12 appearances in all competitions, but now returns to his home country on a permanent basis as he looks to get his career back on track.

As for Reading, they are now without a goalkeeper having let their second-choice go and seen Player of the Year Adam Federici join Bournemouth, recently promoted to the Premier League as winners of the Championship. However, manager Steve Clarke told Get Reading earlier this week that he has his eye on "more than one" shot-stopper.

More options for the Royals

The Royals have been linked with Wes Foderingham and Brad Jones, both released by their clubs this summer, and they have even held talks with the former.

It seems Clarke is only interested in signing one goalkeeper though, as he wants to "try and push" 20-year-old youth product Stuart Moore this season, a player he feels has "big" potential.

Whilst he understands that "there are one or two [options] who are available on a free transfer," he also believes that there are some potential targets "at other clubs" who Reading could sign "for a small fee who might be a better option" too.

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About the author
Amee Ruszkai
Head of the Sunderland, Swansea City and women football sections at VAVEL UK. Email: [email protected]