Reading have sanctioned a loan exit for right-back Ashqar Ahmed to National League title contenders Forest Green Rovers.
The defender has slipped out of the first team since Leam Richardson’s arrival in Berkshire, having made his last senior start under previous boss Noel Hunt against Exeter City in October.
Game Time Worries Prompt Move
Reading revealed via their club website that Ahmed will head on loan to Forest Green for the remainder of the season in a search for more minutes, with the Nailsworth side eyeing up further support for Jay Mingi on the right flank.
A big welcome to Forest Green Rovers, Ashqar Ahmed! 💚#WeAreFGR💚 pic.twitter.com/GXd3Xhx9fB
— Forest Green Rovers (@FGRFC_Official) February 6, 2026
The 18-year-old has seen just a solitary minute of senior football following Richardson’s appointment on New Year’s Day, but has been playing regularly with the club’s youth team in the Premier League 2.
With goals against Blackburn Rovers and Burnley, Ahmed has seen his side win three games on the bounce, helping propel the Royals further away from the bottom of the table and towards challenging for a last 16 place with eight matches of their season remaining.
Is Forest Green The Right Destination?
On paper, moving down to the National League is a great move for Ashqar Ahmed to make, with Forest Green a more than ideal destination with how well they have played right now.
🗣️ | The gaffer on the signing of Ashqar Ahmed from Reading and a mention to @WeAreTheOverlap also 👀#WeAreFGR💚 pic.twitter.com/1QYXHvif8b
— Forest Green Rovers (@FGRFC_Official) February 6, 2026
However, if game time is the main concern that has prompted a loan move, then heading to the New Lawn may not have been the best choice to make.
With Jay Mingi, Tre Pemberton, Tom Knowles and Sean Long all at the club, there is plenty of competition to deal with for a place in the starting eleven, with Knowles offering a more offensive-minded option.
However, recent results against Scunthorpe United and Wealdstone hint at a weakness at the back, which suggests that more defensively resilient players is necessary for their title ambitions.
With a crucial match against York City on the horizon, Robbie Savage’s men have to become more consistent or risk missing out on promotion back into the EFL once more.