Watford

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Watford striker Nestory Irankunda has left after just one season at Vicarage Road to move to Lisbon to join Portuguese giants Sporting on what the Hornets describe as "a permanent deal".

The 20-year-old Australia international arrived in July 2025 from Bayern Munich.

But, after four goals in 44 appearances for Watford, he will move on to Sporting, subject to international clearance.

Irankunda also netted five times for the Socceroos last season, including their opening goal of the World Cup in a 2-0 win over Turkey to become Australia's youngest ever scorer in the competition.

Watford host Southampton on Sunday (13:30 BST) as they return to the Championship after their dramatic seasons last time out.

The Hornets saw three different managers at Vicarage Road last season and they have a brand new one to introduce on the weekend as Alessio Dionisi makes his debut in the English Football League.

While Saints will want to show they haven't been rattled following their expulsion from the play-offs after 'Spygate', external.

• Watford have won just one of their last 14 meetings with Southampton in all competitions (D6 L7); a 2-1 away win in the Premier League in March 2022 (D3 L3 since).

• Southampton are unbeaten in their last 10 away league games against Watford (W4 D6), drawing each of their previous two visits since a 1-0 win in the Premier League in October 2021.

• Watford lost their final five Championship games last season by an aggregate score of 1-16; the Hornets last lost six in a row outside the top-flight in February 1973 (9).

• Southampton ended last season unbeaten in their final 19 league games (W14 D5), only once previously have they gone 20+ league games unbeaten, doing so in February 2024 (22).

• Despite only playing 1,800 minutes in the Championship last season (excluding play-offs), only Radek Vítek (8.5) and Carl Rushworth (8.1) prevented more goals based on Opta's expected goals model than Southampton's Daniel Peretz (7.1), conceding 18 goals (excluding own goals) from an xGOT conceded total of 25.1.

George Litchfield
BBC 3CR sport reporter

Image source, Getty Images

News that Michail Antonio is training with Watford should please Hornets fans wanting to see their club strengthen in the striker department.

Luca Kjerrumgaard and Mamadou Doumbia both have room to develop and contribute this season, but it would be a big ask for them to carry the Hornets alone.

On the surface, the addition of Antonio - a player who boasts more than 250 Premier League matches and 68 goals - seems a good fit, adding some experience to the group while helping to guide and mentor the club's younger forwards.

The bigger question is on the pitch.

Watford sporting director Luke Dowling said last week he would like to add a striker with a different profile, one to try and get in behind and stretch teams rather than come to the ball.

There was no doubt about Antonio's pace, power, and ability to score goals in his peak but the former West Ham man has only played a handful of games for Qatari side Al-Sailiya, since a devastating car crash in December 2024. Antonio was lucky to survive, and was left with a broken leg in four places.

He has done remarkably well to come back and fight to play football again, and the fact he was close to signing for Premier League side Brentford last year suggests he is physically still very capable.

The 36-year-old perhaps now has the biggest point to prove of all. That he still has the ability that got him to where he was in English football.

And it's that desire, and that hunger, that might just make this one a clever move for the Hornets, if head coach Alessio Dionisi believes that enough of that ability remains.

Matthew Cresswell
BBC Sport England

Image source, Watford FC

Former West Ham United striker Michail Antonio is currently training with Watford before the start of the Hornets' Championship campaign.

The 36-year-old made his final senior appearance for the Hammers in their 3-1 defeat by Leicester City on 3 December 2024, suffering a broken leg four days later in a car crash.

After being released by the Hammers in June 2025 following a 10-year spell, Antonio returned to the club as part of his rehabilitation and played two games for the under-21 side in Premier League 2.

He trained with Leicester City last December and had also been close to a move to Brentford but sustained a torn calf muscle the day before he was set to sign for the Bees, which scuppered the deal.

Antonio last played in April for Qatari side Al-Sailiya and made a total of four appearances for the club.

Prior to his move to West Ham in September 2015, Antonio played in the EFL for clubs including Reading, Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest.

Watford are closing in on the signing of Bradford City goalkeeper Sam Walker and the 34-year-old will provide back-up. (Sky Sports), external

For more EFL transfer news, check out Wednesday's full gossip column here.

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French Ligue 1 side Brest are in talks to sign Watford goalkeeper Egil Selvik, 29, with the Hornets open to selling the Norway international after bringing in Federico Ravaglia from Bologna. (Sky Sports), external

For more EFL transfer news and rumours, read Monday's full gossip column here.

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Winger Remiero Moulton has rejoined Worthing on a month-long loan from Championship side Watford.

The 20-year-old spent the second half of last season with the Reds, helping them to the National League South title.

They kick off their first season in the National League today away to Carlisle United.

"Once we were made aware that bringing Remiero back was a possibility, we felt it was a no-brainer to add a player of his quality back to our ranks," Worthing manager Adam Hinshelwood told the club website, external.

Worthing have also secured forward Jose Marquez on a season-long loan from fellow National League club Forest Green Rovers.

The 20-year-old spent time on loan at Alvechurch and Dorking Wanderers last season.

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Watford have appointed Adrian Mariappa as a first-team coach following the departure of Dan Gosling.

Former Hornets defender Mariappa played for the club during two spells between 2005 to 2012, and again in 2016 to 2020, making 340 appearances in total.

Mariappa briefly stepped in as part of the interim first-team coaching staff in February following Javi Gracia's resignation.

He leaves his position as assistant coach of the club's under-21's which he had held since last August.

Mariappa replaces the departing Gosling, another former Watford player, who has left his role as assistant after it was announced only in June he was staying at the club to assist new head coach Alessio Dionisi.

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Watford have agreed a deal worth up to £15.5m with Portuguese club Sporting to sell 20-year-old forward Nestory Irankunda, while Bayern Munich are due around £7m because of a 40% sell-on clause for the Australian. (Fabrizio Romano), external

For more EFL transfer news and rumours, read Friday's full gossip column here.

Don't forget to tap the 'follow' button at the top of this page to stay up to date with your club's latest news.

Portuguese club Sporting have made an improved bid of £14m for Watford's 20-year-old forward Nestory Irankunda but the offer is still below the Hornets' valuation of the Australia international. (Sky Sports), external

Want more EFL transfer news and rumours? Read Thursday's full gossip column here.

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New Watford boss Alessio Dionisi has confirmed central defender Mattie Pollock will be the club's captain for the upcoming campaign.

Last season, Pollock shared captaincy duties with influential midfielder Imran Louza - who made a 20-minute cameo at the end of Wednesday's 1-0 pre-season friendly defeat by Fiorentina at Vicarage Road.

"Mattie is important for this team, I am very happy for Mattie because his mentality is very good - every day on the pitch, Mattie works very strongly," Dionisi told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"He speaks with the team-mates. Mattie is a good captain for this team."

Dionisi, who was appointed as the club's head coach last month, also confirmed Louza was looking for a summer move away from the club but could yet stay.

He said: "At the start [of pre-season], Louza wanted to see [look] for another opportunity.

"In this moment, Imran is inside the team and he's a good player. He arrived [at pre-season] late and now I hope he can recuperate because he will be important for us".