Ashqar Ahmed has completed a loan move from Reading to Forest Green, joining the National League side from the League One club on a temporary deal starting 2026-02-06 and running until 2026-05-31. The right-back, who holds both English and Tanzanian nationality, arrives with a current market value of €200k and will spend the remainder of the season at the Gloucestershire club before returning to his parent side.
The transfer is registered as a loan transfer, confirming that Ahmed remains contracted to Reading while Forest Green secure his services for their National League campaign. The agreement ensures he will be available to Forest Green until the end of the current season, at which point he is scheduled to go back to Reading at the conclusion of the loan on 2026-05-31. There is no indication in the data of an extended contract or purchase option, meaning his long-term future beyond that date remains tied to Reading, with the possibility that his situation could evolve depending on subsequent decisions by the club.
Ahmed, 18, only stepped up from Reading FC U18 to the senior Reading squad ahead of the 2025–26 season, moving from the youth setup to the first team on a permanent basis. That internal promotion marked his transition from academy prospect to professional player in a League One environment. His latest move now takes him into the National League with Forest Green, a shift that places him in a different competitive context but still firmly within the English league system.
Primarily deployed as a defender at right-back and preferring his right foot, Ahmed stands at 1.91 m, offering notable physical presence in wide defensive areas. His profile as a tall, athletic full-back gives Forest Green an additional option on the flank as they navigate National League fixtures. While specific appearance and performance statistics for this season are not listed in the available data, his recent market valuation at €200k, determined in late 2025 while at Reading, underlines how highly he is regarded for his age.
Ahmed’s dual national background is also a key element of his story. Born on 31 August 2007 and eligible for both England and Tanzania, he represents the modern, globally connected profile of many young professionals emerging from English academies. His move from Reading to Forest Green does not take him outside England, but it does see him operate away from his parent club’s environment in a different league structure, testing himself in the National League rather than remaining in League One.
The transfer continues a rapid progression that began in Reading’s youth ranks and carried him through to the first team before this loan spell. With his temporary stay at Forest Green formally limited to the period between 2026-02-06 and 2026-05-31, the coming months will be critical in determining how he is viewed on his return to Reading and whether his value and role will increase, stabilize, or prompt further moves, including the longer-term possibility of changes to his contractual situation once his current commitments run their course.
