Reading FC are eyeing-up a move for Dorking Wanderers attacking midfielder Josh Hebert as his trial at Championship side Charlton Athletic is revealed.
Dorking Wanderers have revealed to SurreyLive that a ‘host’ of EFL clubs have made enquiries for the 18-year-old attacking midfielder – with the Royals at the top of the list.
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Heber has been reportedly training and playing with Charlton Athletic over the past three weeks including starting their U21 Professional Development League against Millwall on Saturday.
When the news of his trial became public knowledge the National League South side revealed to the local media that Hull City and Reading have shown interest and are at the top of the list.
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Dorking Wanderers Academy director Jordan Clark said: “The club is really proud of Josh.
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“As a local lad who’s been with us since he was 12 years old, we really want to make sure that Josh’s next move is the right one for him.
“He’s at the end of what looks like a successful trial at Charlton but since it became common knowledge that he was on trial, we’ve had a host of other clubs express an interest.
“We will be sad to lose Josh, who has been part of the first team set up at Meadowbank since the summer, but we would never stop a player making a move to the EFL.
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“At this point, we just want to make sure whatever move Josh makes is the right one for him and so we will be helping him explore the options available to him in the coming days and weeks.”
Hebert joined Dorking Wanderers as a scholar in March 2024 and progressed to the post-16 education and football programme in September 2024 having been part of the Wanderers Elite Youth section as an U16 player. He was part of the team that won the Surrey County Cup.
Injured throughout the first half of his first season with the academy, Josh returned to action at the turn of the year and has gone from strength-to-strength, impressing for both the Dorking Wanderers B and flagship National League Academy South side’s with his performances as a direct, tricky left-winger, earning a call-up to the senior side for matches in the Surrey Senior Cup run as well in the latter stages of the campaign.
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Included in the Wanderers first team squad ahead of the 2025-26 season, Josh made his first league appearance as a substitute in the opening home game of the campaign against Hampton & Richmond Borough on August 16.
So far this season Hebert has made 13 appearances, two starts and has registered one goal.