Watford

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Watford defender Joao Ferreira has signed for French second division side Saint-Étienne.

The 24-year-old, who has been with the Hornets since January 2023, has moved for an undisclosed fee.

The Portuguese right-back has not played for the club since April of that year and has spent the past two seasons out on loan.

Ferreira made 35 appearances in Italy's Serie A for Udinese during 2023-24 and then spent last term in Portugal's top flight with SC Braga.

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Defender Ryan Porteous has completed a £752,000 ($1million) move from Watford to Los Angeles FC.

The centre-back made 82 appearances for the Hornets after joining them from Scottish Premiership club Hibernian in January 2023, and spent the the second half of last season on loan at Preston North End.

Scotland international Porteous, who has 13 caps, has signed a three-year contract with the Major League Soccer club, with an option for another year.

"We're excited to welcome Ryan to LAFC. He brings competitiveness, leadership qualities, and the type of mentality we value at this club," said LAFC co-president John Thorrington.

"His experience at both the international and club level, along with his defensive intensity and ability to play out of the back, will be a great addition to our group as we push toward our goals this season."

Watford midfielder Hector Kyprianou says he has been inspired by working amongst world-class players ahead of the new Championship season with the Hornets.

Midfielder Giorgi Chakvetadze and forward Kwadwo Baah are two of those he's keen to play alongside when the season gets underway.

"I'm glad I'm playing on [Giorgi's] team now rather than against him. I've seen Baah's pace it's frightening, can cause anyone problems," he told BBC Radio Three Counties Radio.

This season Kyprianou steps up to the Championship after leaving League One Peterborough United for Hertfordshire, but believes under the leadership of recently appointed head coach Paulo Pezzolano, Watford are capable of a promotion push.

'I've always known them as a Premier League team."

"[Pezzolano] winning titles in other countries creates a big buzz around the training ground."

Watford travel to newly promoted Charlton in Saturday's early kick-off for their opening game of the Championship season and Kyprianou believes the playing squad must adopt the right mindset to get their season off to a winning start.

"I play for Watford now and we're expected to be winning those games."

Listen to the full interview with Hector Kyprianou and more on BBC Sounds.

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Watford defender Antonio Tikvic has joined German club Preußen Münster for an undisclosed fee.

The centre-back played three games for the Hornets after joining from Italian side Udinese, initially on loan in July 2024.

The move was made permanent the following month.

Tikvic is a Croatia Under-21 international and had a spell on loan at Austrian club Grazer AZ during the 2024-25 season.

Watford are set to offload Jorge Hurtado, 21, and Antonio Tikvic, 21, after both players were sent out on loan deals last season.

Forward Hutardo is set to return to his native country of Columbia on loan to Millionarios with an a option to buy, while Croatian under-21 defender Tikvic could make a permanent move to German side Munster. (Luca Bendoni via X), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Friday's gossip column here.

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Watford have sold forward Mileta Rajovic to Polish top-flight side Legia Warsaw for an undisclosed fee.

The 25-year-old Dane spent the majority of last season on loan with Brondby in his homeland.

Rajovic joined Watford from Swedish side Kalmar FF in August 2023 and finished the season as the Hornets top scorer with 11 league goals.

He made a total of 48 appearances for the Championship club in all competitions, scoring a total of 14 goals.

Geoff Doyle
BBC 3CR sports editor

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This time last year, pessimism surrounded Watford.

Yaser Asprilla and Ismail Kone had been sold for over £20m to balance the books and Hornets fans weren't ecstatic about the incomings.

The 2023-24 season had ended poorly with the club finishing 15th and expectations were low. Relegation fears were in the air among fans and pundits alike.

Twelve months on and there's a different feeling around Vicarage Road. The Hornets did better than expected under Tom Cleverley, who nevertheless paid the price for a poor second half of last season.

As it stands the two stars of the team have remained - Giorgi Chakvetadze and Kwadwo Baah - as well as some of the other solid performers from last season.

This summer, the signings have been more impressive and others are on their way. Whisper it very quietly, but the Watford squad is shaping up rather quite nicely.

The striker situation will be key this season.

Watford have tried Mileta Raovic, Daniel Jebbison and Vakoun Bayo in the past 12 months and all have fallen short in terms of their technical ability. Indeed the best of the lot has been the raw teenager Mamadou Doumbia, who could develop into a fine number nine with age, experience and good coaching.

Watford can't rely on him just yet which is why Vivaldo Semedo has been brought in and another is on his way too.

If the Hornets can get the right striker, he is sure to do well, feeding off the supplies of Chakvetadze, Baah, Rocco Vata and some of the other young wingers brought in/about to join.

Owner Gino Pozzo did say they were going to give it a go this season and so far he's been true to his word.

After a few years of low expectation, there's a bit of a buzz around Watford again and a sense that the team might just do well.

The prospects for a promotion challenge look far healthier now than they have done for a while.

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Watford boss Paulo Pezzolano hopes Kwadwo Baah and Giorgi Chakvetadze are nearing a return to action after injury.

Baah, 22, came off with a hamstring injury against Preston in January and after missing 10 matches, played a total of just 46 minutes across two games before suffering a recurrence of the injury after starting brightly at Bristol City in April and sat out the final six matches of the campaign.

He has been given a bespoke fitness programme this summer, joining the main group and doing extra individual sessions and is in line to feature in the pre-season friendly at Leyton Orient on 26 July.

Georgian midfielder Chakvetadze, 25, also limped off in the game at Ashton Gate with a foot injury, having played 39 of Watford's first 40 Championship matches.

A club statement, external said he was 'making daily progress' and could feature in the friendly at Brisbane Road or the final warm-up match at home to Deportivo La Coruna four days later.

"Both players have been working on their recovery for some time," said Pezzolano.

"Baah will be able to return to full training with the squad this week, and Chakvetadze is another asset to the club. We look forward to him being fully recovered before he can return to action."

Watford are closing in on a permanent deal for 19-year-old Australian winger Nestory Irankunda from Bayern Munich. (Watford Observer, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip column here.

Watford are expected to take Denmark Under-21 international striker Luca Kjerrumgaard on loan once the 22-year-old has completed a move from Odense BK to the Hornets' sister club Udinese. (Sky Sports, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip column here.

Watford striker Mileta Rajovic, 25, looks set to depart the club for Polish side Legia Warsaw, with the Hornets set to make a healthy profit on the Dane. (Watford Observer), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Thursday's gossip column here.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Norwich could hijack Watford's move for Metz attacker Pape Diallo.

The 21-year-old Senegal international has been on the verge of a move to Watford but the Canaries are one of a number of clubs considering an 11th-hour offer.

Diallo scored seven goals for Metz in Ligue 2 last season and regularly plays on the left a role where Norwich will need a replacement for Porto-bound Borja Sainz.

He moved to France from Senegalese club Generation Foot in 2023 and has scored 12 goals in 63 games in all competitions for the Maroons.

Diallo helped Metz finish third last season as they were promoted to Ligue 1, beating Reims in the play-offs.

Watford want to sign 19-year-old Morocco Under-20 winger Othmane Maamma from Ligue 2 club Montpellier. (Luca Bendoni, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip column here.