Jonathan Bond is set to complete a permanent move to Reading after rejecting a new contract at Vicarage Road, the Watford Observer understands.

The England Under-21 goalkeeper had been expected to move elsewhere on loan next season after the Hornets signed Giedrius Arlauskis from Steaua Bucharest and Heurelho Gomes and Rene Gilmartin agreed new deals. However, we have been told Bond turned down that option and has opted for a permanent move elsewhere in a bid to get regular first-team football.

A product of the Hornets Academy, the 22-year-old had one year remaining on his existing three-year deal and the Watford Observer understands the club were initially expecting him to sign a new contract after one had been offered and terms had been agreed. The Golden Boys were then intending to loan him to another club but Bond has opted for a permanent move instead.

The keeper is set to depart Vicarage Road having move a total of 33 appearances for the club, 22 of them in the league.

Following loan spells at Brackley Town and Forest Green Rovers at the start of the 2011/12 season, Bond made his Watford debut in a 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth in January 2012 before making more loan moves to Dagenham & Redbridge and Bury later in that campaign.

An impressive display in the 3-0 FA Cup defeat at Manchester City followed in 2012/13 during which he made a total of ten Hornets appearances, followed by 15 the following year.

Bond’s first-team opportunities were more limited last season, but he did feature six times, the last of which came in the 3-1 defeat at Huddersfield Town in January.