Watford’s five most expensive sales include Saudi Pro League winner and Olympic champion

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Watford have been busy in the summer transfer window ahead of the 2025/26 season as the club aim to be among the contenders for the play-offs.

Paulo Pezzolano is starting to put his stamp on this team, as the club signed Nestory Irankunda from Bayern Munich earlier in July, and they won the race for Vivaldo Semedo, who made the switch to Vicarage Road from Udinese.

However, there has been a fresh focus on Ryan Porteous, with LAFC interested in the Scottish defender. Now, it has emerged just how much the MLS side will pay for the centre-back.

As the defender looks set to leave the club, it is unlikely that the fee will be as significant as those Watford had received previously during their time in the Premier League.

EFL Analysis brings you the five most expensive sales the club have ever made, according to Transfermarkt.

• READ MORE: Watford’s five most expensive signings ever including two-time Serie A winner and Spanish starlet

5. Dodi Lukebakio – £17.3 million

Starting off this list is a player that only ever played once for Watford, as Dodi Lukebakio joined Watford in January 2018, and in his six months at the club, he made his debut against West Ham.

This would be the only time he featured that season before he was loaned out to Fortuna Düsseldorf the next season.

He impressed while on this loan move in Germany, and Hertha Berlin would sign the forward in the summer of 2019, with Watford selling him for a significant fee.

4. Abdoulaye Doucoure – £19 million

Abdoulaye Doucoure spent four seasons at Watford and was always a reliable option in the heart of midfield; however, he would leave the club ahead of the 2020/21 season.

The reason for his departure to Everton ahead of the campaign was due to the relegation of Watford.

The Hornets will be pleased that they received such a significant fee for the player after the club had been relegated to the Championship.

3. Odion Ighalo – £20.2 million

The striker would spend two and a half seasons at Watford, joining them in the Championship from Udinese, and he would be key to them achieving promotion to the Premier League.

In his first season on loan, he scored 20 goals in 35 appearances before joining permanently, and he would score 15 goals in the Premier League for Watford.

Odion Ighalo would then leave in his third season at the club to join Changchun Yatai in China, with Watford receiving a fee of £20.2 million for the striker.

Ighalo would struggle for a few seasons as he played in China and then for Manchester United before finding form once again in Saudi Arabia for Al Shabab before joining Al-Hilal.

• READ MORE: Roma ‘keen’ on bringing Watford star to the Stadio Olimpico this summer

2. Joao Pedro – £29.6 million

Joao Pedro joined Watford from Fluminense in 2019, and he would remain at the club until May 2023, when he joined Brighton and Hove Albion.

The Brazilian striker would prove to be key for the club in the Championship and Premier League across his time at the club, scoring 24 goals in 109 appearances.

Pedro showed a lot of promise at Watford and would be young player of the season in his final campaign, now he has become one of the most prolific strikers in the Premier League.

1. Richarlison – £33.9 million

The most expensive sale that Watford ever made was Richarlison, as he left the club to join Everton for a fee of £33.9 million in the summer of 2018.

Richarlison would show glimpses of how good he could become while at Watford in his only season at Vicarage Road.

The striker would only score five goals in his 41 appearances for the club during his one season at Watford.

It is likely he was signed by Everton for the potential rather than the output he produced while at Watford.