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

Add as preferred source on Google

Watford have been busy in the summer transfer window ahead of the upcoming Championship season, and they aren’t showing any signs of stopping.

Fans of the EFL were shocked at the sacking of Tom Cleverley in May, with Watford’s fans not too pleased about Paulo Pezzolano being his replacement at Vicarage Road.

As preparations begin under their new boss, the club have been making signings that could help him achieve their 2025/26 Championship ambitions.

Watford have already brought in Hector Kyprianou, with the arrival of Vivaldo Semedo coming not too long after.

These signings did not break the bank of the club and were not of the same expense compared to signings the club made while in the Premier League.

EFL Analysis has taken a look at who were the five record transfer signings through Watford’s history as a club.

• READ MORE: Watford sold a £10m striker ‘identical to Viktor Gyokeres’ and he scored 31 goals last season

Top five most expensive Watford signings

5. Gerard Deulofeu – £11.2 million

In January 2018, Watford made a statement signing in Gerard Deulofeu as they brought the exciting winger in from Barcelona on loan.

He joined the club permanently after impressing in the half season he had at the club initially in the seven Premier League matches he featured in.

The Spanish international would spend two seasons at the club as a permanent signing, featuring in 70 matches and scoring 17 goals for the Hornets.

Deulofeu would leave Watford in October 2020 to join Udinese in Serie A after the club had been relegated to the Championship the season before.

4. Roberto Pereyra – £11.6 million

A midfielder who left an impression on the Premier League during his four seasons with Watford.

He was a hard-working player who possessed an immense amount of ability and was a signing from a European giant, Juventus, demonstrating the market Watford could shop in at this time.

Pereyra would feature in 115 matches for the Hornets, scoring 18 goals; however, he would be unable to help save the club from relegation in his last season.

So, like Deulofeu in the 2020/21 season, he would leave Watford and opt to move to Udinese.

3. Isaac Success – £13 million

The Nigerian striker moved to Vicarage Road in July 2016 from Spanish side Granada after a decent season in La Liga the season prior to moving to Watford.

Isaac Success would spend five seasons at Vicarage Road, with one of the seasons being spent on loan at Malaga.

He would not find an immense amount of success in England, as he would only score six goals in 72 appearances across those five seasons.

Again, like the previous two people on the list, Success would leave the club to join Udinese, with one slight difference being he would be part of Watford’s side for a season in the Championship.

2. Andre Gray – £17.5 million

The Jamaican international joined the club in August 2017 from Burnley after he rejected a contract extension with the Lancashire club.

So, Watford decided to capitalise on the fact Andre Gray did not want to sign the contract, and so Burnley cashed in on him.

Gray would struggle at Vicarage Road in front of goal, as he scored 21 goals in 126 matches across four seasons in the Premier League and Championship.

He would leave the club on loan to QPR in August 2021 before being released by Watford at the end of the campaign.

1. Ismaila Sarr – £25.8 million

Watford’s record signing is Ismaila Sarr, who they acquired for a hefty fee of £25.8 million from Rennes in August 2019.

Sarr would spend four seasons on the books of the Hornets before departing for Marseille in July 2023 with Watford firmly stuck in the Championship.

The Senegalese attacker always impressed while at Vicarage Road, just failing to find consistency for the undoubtable talent he possessed.

During his time at the club, Liverpool showed interest, with Jurgen Klopp looking to strengthen his attacking options and become a real force in English football.

Sarr would have a decent record at Watford, scoring 34 goals in 131 matches at the club.