Leicester City have confirmed the signing of Republic of Ireland under 21 winger Jonathan Hayes from Reading.

Hayes, pictured on the right of the above image, spent the back end of last season on loan at Milton Keynes Dons - City boss Martin Allen's former club.

And the Leicester chief was suitably impressed enough with what he saw of the 19-year-old to sign him on a three-year deal for the Foxes.

Allen said: "I have seen Jonathan play for Reading reserves on numerous occasions. He has pace, he is direct and he is very confident.

"I took him with me to on loan to Milton Keynes Dons. He was very impressive. I took him there as a squad player to help with our running, but he did so well that he actually got himself into the starting 11.

"He is at a right age to improve. He has still got a lot to do, don't get me wrong. He is not the finished article.

"But with a good pre-season he could be a spark of energy that helps us win some matches if he does what I want him to."

Hayes made 13 appearances for Milton Keynes in total - and has also had loan spells at Forest Green and Chesterfield.

He becomes Allen's eighth signing of the summer - following Bruno N'Gotty, Jimmy Nielson, Carl Cort, Radostin Kishishev, Ricky Sappleton, James Chambers and Sergio Hellings through the doors at the Walkers Stadium.