Vickers came through the Reading academy and made his first-team debut earlier this season in League One, impressing with his performance against Peterborough. He went on to make 14 appearances for Reading, scoring one goal in 619 minutes of play.
Due to Reading’s financial struggles, Vickers was heavily linked with moves to various top sides. Real Madrid reportedly held talks with Reading in December for a potential £1million move to the Santiago Bernabeu, offering a plan for him to join their B team and gradually work towards the first team.
Despite interest from Arsenal and Celtic, Vickers ultimately joined Brighton for an undisclosed fee. Brighton provided him with a clear pathway to first-team football, and he signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with the club.
He will aim to impress under manager Roberto De Zerbi, starting with the youth squads. Brighton’s Under-23 manager Shannon Ruth spoke positively about Vickers’ acquisition, highlighting his impressive season and expressing confidence in his continued development and success within the club’s environment.
Brighton is known for giving their younger prospects opportunities on big stages, with players like Evan Ferguson and Julio Enciso being key members of the team.