Nicky Shorey has returned to Reading on a one-year deal.
The 31-year-old was released by West Brom at the end of last season and has now been added to Brian McDermott's squad as they prepare for life in the Barclays Premier League, having won the npower Championship title last season.
Club chairman John Madejski said: "I would like to welcome Nicky back to Reading Football Club, he was an outstanding player here once before and we are looking forward to him triumphing even more this time around.
"I know the manager was very keen to have Nicky back, that makes a huge difference and so good luck to him once again."
Shorey first played for Reading between 2001 and 2008 before leaving to join Aston Villa, having played 286 games for the Berkshire club.
Shorey says his mind was instantly made up after speaking with manager McDermott.
He told the club's official website: "I spoke to Bri on the phone and he made it clear that he wanted me to come back, which is always nice, and I made it clear that I was more than happy to do that.
"It was an easy conversation to have. Most of the summer I was waiting and I had other clubs interested so it's been a long summer for me, thinking where I was going to end up. But as soon as Brian made the call to me, my mind was made up.
"I spoke to another couple of managers and I've got a lot of respect for them and I'm sure I would've been happy going to one of those clubs, but the pull that Reading had, to work with Brian especially and (director of football) Nicky Hammond again and the people at the club, I didn't feel I could turn it down, and being in the Premier League as well."
