After their promotion back to the Premier League, Watford FC have already improved their squad for the following season.
Here’s an in-depth look at the latest Hornets lads and what they have to offer.
- Joshua King (pictured)
Following an unsuccessful six-month stint at Everton, Watford signed Norwegian forward Joshua King as a free agent.
King spent six successful years at Bournemouth, where he helped them reach 9th place in just their second ever Premier League season by scoring 16 goals.
After five years in the Premier League for Bournemouth, King scored 48 goals and made 14 assists in 161 appearances.
The 29-year-old – who has been capped over 50 times for his country – can play anywhere along the front line or even just in behind the striker, and is best known for his lightning quick pace, fantastic link up play, excellent finishing and his ability to dribble past the opposition defence.
- Ashley Fletcher
Coming off the back of a four-year long spell at Middlesbrough, in which he scored 28 goals in 108 matches for the club, Watford have signed 25-year-old English Striker Ashley Fletcher on a free transfer.
Standing at 6 foot 1 inches tall, Fletcher is a well-rounded striker adept at being prolific both in the air and on the ground, showing on countless occasions that he is able to score with his head and shoot with either foot, despite being naturally right footed.
Fletcher’s most prolific campaign was in the 2019/20 championship season for Middlesbrough, where he racked up 11 goals and seven in the entire season.
However, the ex-Manchester United Academy player failed to make in impact in the most recent season, as he only featured in 12 matches due to injury.
Prior to his move to Middlesbrough, Fletcher spent one season at West Ham United, where he made 16 premier league appearances but failed to score a goal.
Four years on from his last Premier League appearance, both Fletcher himself and Watford fans will be hoping he will secure his first Premier League goal.
- Danny Rose
After a short six-month loan at Watford in 2009, where he made seven appearances, Danny Rose has agreed to return to the Hornets as a free agent.
Rose spent a lengthy and successful 14 years at Tottenham Hotspur, where he made 214 appearances playing predominantly as a left-back for the club.
Rose is an extremely experienced defender, featuring in two PFA Team of the Years in the 2015/16 and 2016/17 Premier League seasons, as well as playing in both the 2018 World Cup semi-final for England and the 2019 Champions League final for Tottenham.
The 31-year-old’s last appearance was for Newcastle in July 2020, at the end of the six-month loan he spent at the club.
- Emmanuel Dennis
Emmanuel Dennis joined the Hornets from Belgian outlet, Club Brugge, for a reported £3.6million.
Dennis is a rapid, energetic and explosive forward, capable of playing on either wing or as a central striker.
He is fantastic at beating his man and using his pace effectively, as well as always working exceptionally hard off the ball and pressing for his team.
With the Nigerian partnering up with new arrival Josh King and Hornets star man Ismaila Sarr, the speed in Watford’s attack could be frightening for opposition defenders.
The 23-year-old scored 27 goals in just over 90 appearances for Club Brugge, playing in both the Europa League and Champions League, where he scored a brace against European giants Real Madrid in the 2019/20 season.
- Imran Louza
After only his second full professional season for Nantes in Ligue 1, Watford have signed promising French-Moroccan midfielder Imran Louza for an estimated fee of £10million.
The 22-year-old has had an impressive season for Nantes this season, scoring seven goals and getting two assists in 33 matches.
Seen as a classic box-to box midfielder, Louza is just as good defensively as he is going forward and has been compared by some to former Watford midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure – someone who Watford have yet to properly replace since selling him to Everton in 2020.
- Peter Etebo
Watford have also signed Stoke City and Nigerian midfielder Peter Etebo on a season long loan.
The 25-year-old midfielder made 45 appearances for Stoke, as well as featuring on loan for Getafe and Galatasaray on loan in the last two years.
- Mattie Pollock
19-year-old centre back Mattie Pollock has also been signed for £250,000 from Grimsby Town on a five-year contract after an impressive second senior season at the League Two side.
Picture credit Watford FC
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