[themaclad]

Watford have re-signed midfielder Moussa Sissoko following two years with French club Nantes.

The 34-year-old, who has agreed a two-year deal, scored twice in 38 appearances for the Hornets in 2021-22 after arriving from Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of about £3m.

He played alongside new Watford head coach Tom Cleverley in that season, which ended with relegation from the Premier League.

"We all know his qualities as a player and he's still playing at a very high level. He's going to be a key part of the squad this year," Cleverley told the club website., external

"He was our best player by a stretch the last time he was here. Even though it wasn’t a successful season for the club, he was one of the positives to come out of it."

Sissoko, who won 71 caps for France, is Watford's third summer signing following goalkeeper Jonathan Bond - another former Hornet returning to Vicarage Road - and young forward Rocco Vata.

They will begin the new Championship campaign with a lunchtime trip to Millwall on 10 August.

[themaclad]

Watford midfielder Tom Dele-Bashiru has signed a new two-year contract at Vicarage Road, with an option for a further 12 months.

The 24-year-old joined The Hornets from Manchester City's youth set-up in 2019 and made 38 appearances last season, scoring three goals.

He needs to play one more game to reach 50 for the club, having missed most of the 2020-21 campaign with a serious knee injury, which was followed by a season on loan at Reading.

Watford finished 15th in the Championship last term and will start the new season with a trip to Millwall on 10 August.

[themaclad]

Watford have signed centre-back Antonio Tikvic from Udinese on a season-long loan.

The Serie A club is owned by the Pozzo family, who also have a controlling stake in Watford.

The 20-year-old, who joined Udinese from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023, made just two senior appearances for the Italian top-flight side last season.

The Croatia Under-21 international spent time on the books at St Pauli, Eintracht Frankfurt and Hamburger SV as a youth player.

"I am grateful to be here," he told Watford's website, external.

"It is a great opportunity to play for this club."

[themaclad]

Watford have signed left-back Yasser Larouci from French side Troyes.

Larouci, 23, joins the Hornets on a season-long deal from the Ligue 2 club.

He spent last season on loan at Sheffield United, playing 13 times for the Blades as they were relegated from the Premier League.

The Algerian international, who represented France at under-21 level, joined Troyes from Liverpool in 2021 where he made 47 appearances in two seasons before returning to England last year.

[themaclad]

Watford have signed central defender Kayky Almeida from Brazilian club Fluminense.

The 19-year-old has joined the Hornets on a five-year contract and is the club's seventh signing this summer.

Watford head coach Tom Cleverley told BBC Three Counties Radio on Wednesday that he was in the market for a new central defender in order to deploy a 3-5-2 formation this season.

Kayky, a natural left-footer, is not eligible to face Millwall on Saturday but could make his debut against Stoke City on 17 August.

[themaclad]

Yaser Asprilla has left Watford to sign for Spanish top-flight club Girona for an undisclosed fee.

The 20-year-old Colombia international first signed for the Hornets in January 2022 from Envigado in his home country, before completing the season back on loan with his former club.

In his two seasons with Watford he scored seven times in 86 appearances - almost half of which came off the bench.

But he has not figured in Watford's winning start to the 2024-25 season.

Girona finished third in La Liga last season to qualify for the Champions League.

The length of Asprilla's contract is undisclosed.

[themaclad]

Watford have signed central midfielder Pierre Dwomoh on a permanent deal from Belgian side Royal Antwerp.

Dwomoh, 20, becomes Tom Cleverley's eighth signing at Vicarage Road this summer.

The Belgian youth international spent last season on loan at RWD Molenbeek in his home country, making 33 appearances in all competitions.

"I'm very happy to be here, it's a big club," Dwomoh told the Hornets' club website., external

"I'm technical, I like duels, I like to run as well. I like to help my teammates, I like to jump in and just be there for them."

[themaclad]

Watford have signed former West Ham United defender Angelo Ogbonna on an initial one-year contract.

The 36-year-old was a free agent, having been released by the Hammers after making 17 appearances last season.

They signed him from Italian giants Juventus in the summer of 2015 for a reported £10m.

He joins a Watford squad that has won all three Championship games this season, along with their EFL Cup first round tie, under head coach Tom Cleverley.

Ogbonna, who made an appearance from the bench in West Ham's Europa Conference League final victory in 2023, is Watford's eighth summer signing.

He made over 200 appearances for the Hammers in the Premier League, with ex-Watford boss Gianluca Zola the only Italian to have exceeded that figure.

"It is very important to bring in some experience, like with Moussa [Sissoko]," Ogbonna told the club website.

“I have spoken with the manager a couple of times, so I know his style of play. I am here to try my best and to try to help the team.”

[themaclad]

Watford have signed AFC Bournemouth striker Daniel Jebbison on loan for the rest of the season.

The 21-year-old is the 11th signing of the summer transfer window by The Hornets, who have won all five league and cup games so far this season.

Jebbison joined Bournemouth from Sheffield United for £1.5m last month on a four-year contract and came on as a substitute in their Premier League matches against Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United.

"I am a sponge right now, I want to soak up everything and learn as much as possible, and be a better player on and off the pitch," he told the Watford website.

"There is a good structure here with good people, and good things that you don’t see behind the scenes.

"The gaffer [Tom Cleverley] is very ambitious in his goals, he is very clear in his mind what he wants, and we share the same values."

Watford are next in action away to Jebbison's former club Sheffield United on Sunday.

[themaclad]

Watford midfielder Giorgi Chakvetadze has signed a new five-year contract at the Championship club until 2029.

The 25-year-old made a permanent switch to the Hornets in February, having impressed during a loan spell from Belgian club Gent.

He has scored twice in his 44 appearances for the Championship club, including a goal in their opening day win against Millwall in August.

"He’s a fantastic example for our younger players on how focusing on what’s really important in your life – if you truly want to make it as a professional – matters," head coach Tom Cleverley told the club website, external.

"Let’s hope he can be a big part of our future and that success we all want."