2024–25 Watford F.C. season

126th season in existence of Watford FC
Watford 2024–25 football season
Watford
2024–25 season
OwnerGino Pozzo
ChairmanScott Duxbury[1]
Head CoachTom Cleverley[2]
StadiumVicarage Road
2025–26 →

The 2024–25 season is the 126th season in the history of Watford and their third consecutive season in the Championship. The club are participating in the Championship, the FA Cup, and the EFL Cup.

Current squad

As of 10 July 2024[3]
No. Name Position Nationality Date of birth (Age) Signed from Since Fee Ends Apps Goals
Goalkeepers
1 Daniel Bachmann GK Austria 9 July 1994 (age 30) Stoke City 2017 Free Transfer 2028 116 0
23 Jonathan Bond GK England 19 May 1993 (age 31) Free Agent 2024[a] Free Transfer 2025 33 0
Defenders
2 Jeremy Ngakia RB England 7 September 2000 (age 23) West Ham United 2020 Free Transfer 2027 74 0
3 Francisco Sierralta CB Chile 6 May 1997 (age 27) Udinese 2020 Undisclosed 2027 88 2
4 Wesley Hoedt CB Netherlands 6 March 1994 (age 30) Anderlecht 2023 £2,000,000 2025 63 4
5 Ryan Porteous CB Scotland 25 March 1999 (age 25) Hibernian 2023 £500,000 2027 57 5
6 Mattie Pollock CB England 28 September 2001 (age 22) Grimsby Town 2021 £300,000 2026 24 0
13 João Ferreira RB Portugal 22 March 2001 (age 23) Benfica 2023 £2,500,000 2027 5 1
22 James Morris LB England 23 November 2001 (age 22) Southampton 2021 Free Transfer 2026 31 0
45 Ryan Andrews RB England 26 August 2004 (age 19) Academy 2012 2028 51 3
Midfielders
10 Imran Louza CM Morocco 1 May 1999 (age 25) Nantes 2021 £10,000,000 2028 60 6
16 Giorgi Chakvetadze AM Georgia (country) 29 August 1999 (age 24) Gent 2024 Undisclosed 2027 37 1
18 Yáser Asprilla AM Colombia 19 November 2003 (age 20) Envigado 2022 £3,000,000 2026 86 7
24 Tom Dele-Bashiru CM Nigeria 17 September 1999 (age 24) Manchester City 2019 Free Transfer 2028 49 4
39 Edo Kayembe CM Democratic Republic of the Congo 3 June 1998 (age 26) KAS Eupen 2022 £4,700,000 2026 71 5
Rocco Vata AM Republic of Ireland 18 April 2005 (age 19) Celtic 2024 Undisclosed 2028 0 0
Moussa Sissoko CM France 16 August 1989 (age 34) Nantes 2024[b] Free Transfer 2026 38 2
Forwards
7 Tom Ince RW England 30 January 1992 (age 32) Reading 2023 £50,000 2025 29 2
9 Mileta Rajović ST Denmark 17 July 1999 (age 25) Kalmar FF 2023 £1,000,000 2028 43 11
12 Ken Sema LW Sweden 30 September 1993 (age 30) Östersunds 2018 Undisclosed 2025 159 12
17 Jorge Hurtado ST Colombia 6 September 2003 (age 20) Real Cartagena 2023 Undisclosed 2029 1 0
19 Vakoun Bayo ST Ivory Coast 10 January 1997 (age 27) Sporting Charleroi 2022 £5,800,000 2027 67 11
28 Samuel Kalu RW Nigeria 26 August 1997 (age 26) Bordeaux 2022 £3,000,000 2025 13 0
34 Kwadwo Baah LW Germany 27 January 2003 (age 21) Rochdale 2021 Free Transfer 2026 0 0
Mamadou Doumbia ST Mali 18 February 2006 (age 18) Black Stars 2024 Undisclosed 2030 0 0
  1. ^ Bond re-signed for Watford playing 33 games between 2012-2015.
  2. ^ Sissoko re-signed for Watford playing 38 games and scoring 2 goals between 2021-2022.

Transfers

In

Date Position Player From Fee Ref
1 July 2024[a] CF Mali Mamadou Doumbia Mali Black Stars Undisclosed [4]
3 July 2024 GK England Jonathan Bond Free agent [5]
5 July 2024 AM Republic of Ireland Rocco Vata Scotland Celtic Compensation [6]
10 July 2024 CM France Moussa Sissoko France Nantes Free [7]
  1. ^ Transfer was announced on 19 February, but joined the club on 1 July.

Out

Date Pos. Player To Fee Ref.
28 June 2024 CM Canada Ismaël Koné France Marseille Undisclosed [8]

Loaned in

Date Position Player From Date until Ref

Loaned out

Date Position Player To Date until Ref

Released / Out of Contract

Date Pos. Player Subsequent club Join date Ref.
30 June 2024 CF England Ashley Fletcher England Blackpool 1 July 2024 [9][10]
30 June 2024 GK England Ben Hamer England Sheffield Wednesday 1 July 2024 [9][11]
30 June 2024 RB England Hamzat Balogun [12]
30 June 2024 CB England Ben Casey [12]
30 June 2024 CF England James Collins [12]
30 June 2024 CM England Charlie Davis [12]
30 June 2024 CM England Yianni Goulandris [12]
30 June 2024 CM Germany Edward Gyamfi [12]
30 June 2024 RW Poland Dawid Hamiga [12]
30 June 2024 RB England Scott Holding [12]
30 June 2024 LB England Alfie King [12]
30 June 2024 DM England Jake Livermore [9]
30 June 2024 DM England Jack Taylor [12]
30 June 2024 CB England Victor Wachowicz [12]

Pre-season and friendlies

On 22 May, Watford announced their initial pre-season schedule, with friendlies against Reading (behind closed doors), Boreham Wood, Stevenage, Gillingham, Wycombe Wanderers and Brentford.[13] On 13 June, they added an away match against Scottish side Hibernian.[14]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

Watford v Reading
6 July 2024 Friendly Watford 0–2 Reading St Albans
11:00 BST(UTC+1) Report Akande 64'
Wareham 72'
Stadium: Watford Football Club Training Ground
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
Boreham Wood v Watford
10 July 2024 Friendly Boreham Wood 0–1 Watford Borehamwood
18:00 BST Report Grieves 50' Stadium: Meadow Park
Note: Kickoff was originally scheduled for 19:30 but was set back due to England progressing to the semi-final of EURO 2024. [15]
Stevenage v Watford
13 July 2024 Friendly Stevenage 2–2 Watford Stevenage
15:00 BST Piergianni 45'
Sweeney 90+2'
Report Baah 9'
Louza 50'
Stadium: Broadhall Way
Gillingham v Watford
20 July 2024 Friendly Gillingham v Watford Gillingham
15:00 BST Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Hibernian v Watford
24 July 2024 Friendly Hibernian v Watford Edinburgh
19:00 BST Stadium: Easter Road
Wycombe Wanderers v Watford
30 July 2024 Friendly Wycombe Wanderers v Watford High Wycombe
19:30 BST Stadium: Adams Park
Watford v Brentford
3 August 2024 Friendly Watford v Brentford Watford
15:00 BST Stadium: Vicarage Road

Competitions

Championship

League table

Pos Team
  • v
  • t
  • e
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
19 Stoke City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
20 Sunderland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
21 Swansea City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
22 Watford 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relegation to EFL League One
23 West Bromwich Albion 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
24 Sheffield United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 −2[a]
First match(es) will be played: 10 August 2024. Source: EFL Official Website
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results; 5) Wins; 6) Away goals; 7) Penalty points (sec 9.5); 8) Number of 12-point sending off offences; 9) Play-off (only if needed to determine promotion/relegation)[17]
Notes:
  1. ^ Sheffield United were deducted two points for defaulting on payments to other clubs during the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons, with a further two points suspended.[16]


Results summary

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
0 0 0 0 0 0  0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0 0 0 0 0 0  0

Last updated: pre-season.
Source: Soccerway

Matches

On 26 June, the Championship fixtures were announced.[18]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

Millwall v Watford
10 August 2024 1 Millwall v Watford Bermondsey
12:30 BST Stadium: The Den
Watford v Stoke City
17 August 2024 2 Watford v Stoke City Watford
15:00 BST Stadium: Vicarage Road
Watford v Derby County
24 August 2024 3 Watford v Derby County Watford
15:00 BST Stadium: Vicarage Road
Sheffield United v Watford
1 September 2024 4 Sheffield United v Watford Sheffield
15:00 BST Stadium: Bramall Lane
Note: Fixture was initially scheduled for 31 August, but was moved for live Sky Sports broadcast.[19]
Watford v Coventry City
14 September 2024 5 Watford v Coventry City Watford
15:00 BST Stadium: Vicarage Road
Norwich City v Watford
21 September 2024 6 Norwich City v Watford Norwich
12:30 BST Stadium: Carrow Road
Note: Fixture was initially scheduled for a 15:00 kick-off, but was moved for live Sky Sports broadcast.[19]
Watford v Sunderland
28 September 2024 7 Watford v Sunderland Watford
15:00 BST Stadium: Vicarage Road
Preston North End v Watford
2 October 2024 8 Preston North End v Watford Preston
19:45 BST Stadium: Deepdale
Watford v Middlesbrough
5 October 2024 9 Watford v Middlesbrough Watford
15:00 BST Stadium: Vicarage Road
Luton Town v Watford
19 October 2024 10 Luton Town v Watford Luton
15:00 BST Stadium: Kenilworth Road
Leeds United v Watford
22 October 2024 11 Leeds United v Watford Leeds
19:45 BST Stadium: Elland Road
Watford v Blackburn Rovers
26 October 2024 12 Watford v Blackburn Rovers Watford
15:00 BST Stadium: Vicarage Road
Sheffield Wednesday v Watford
2 November 2024 13 Sheffield Wednesday v Watford Owlerton
15:00 BST Stadium: Hillsborough Stadium
Swansea City v Watford
5 November 2024 14 Swansea City v Watford Landore
19:45 BST Stadium: Liberty Stadium
Watford v Oxford United
9 November 2024 15 Watford v Oxford United Watford
15:00 BST Stadium: Vicarage Road
Plymouth Argyle v Watford
23 November 2024 16 Plymouth Argyle v Watford Plymouth
15:00 BST Stadium: Home Park
Watford v Bristol City
26 November 2024 17 Watford v Bristol City Watford
19:45 BST Stadium: Vicarage Road
Watford v Queens Park Rangers
30 November 2024 18 Watford v Queens Park Rangers Watford
15:00 BST Stadium: Vicarage Road
Cardiff City v Watford
7 December 2024 19 Cardiff City v Watford Leckwith
15:00 BST Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium
Hull City v Watford
11 December 2024 20 Hull City v Watford Kingston upon Hull
19:45 BST Stadium: MKM Stadium
Watford v West Bromwich Albion
14 December 2024 21 Watford v West Bromwich Albion Watford
15:00 BST Stadium: Vicarage Road
Burnley v Watford
21 December 2024 22 Burnley v Watford Burnley
15:00 BST Stadium: Turf Moor
Watford v Portsmouth
26 December 2024 23 Watford v Portsmouth Watford
15:00 BST Stadium: Vicarage Road
Watford v Cardiff City
29 December 2024 24 Watford v Cardiff City Watford
15:00 BST Stadium: Vicarage Road
Queens Park Rangers v Watford
1 January 2025 25 Queens Park Rangers v Watford Shepherd's Bush
15:00 BST Stadium: Loftus Road
Watford v Sheffield United
4 January 2025 26 Watford v Sheffield United Watford
15:00 BST Stadium: Vicarage Road
Derby County v Watford
18 January 2025 27 Derby County v Watford Derby
15:00 BST Stadium: Pride Park Stadium
Watford v Preston North End
21 January 2025 28 Watford v Preston North End Watford
19:45 BST Stadium: Vicarage Road
Coventry City v Watford
25 January 2025 29 Coventry City v Watford Coventry
15:00 BST Stadium: Coventry Building Society Arena
Watford v Norwich City
1 February 2025 30 Watford v Norwich City Watford
15:00 BST Stadium: Vicarage Road
Sunderland v Watford
8 February 2025 31 Sunderland v Watford Sunderland
15:00 BST Stadium: Stadium of Light
Watford v Leeds United
11 February 2025 32 Watford v Leeds United Watford
19:45 BST Stadium: Vicarage Road
Middlesbrough v Watford
15 February 2025 33 Middlesbrough v Watford Middlesbrough
15:00 BST Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Watford v Luton Town
22 February 2025 34 Watford v Luton Town Watford
15:00 BST Stadium: Vicarage Road
Stoke City v Watford
1 March 2025 35 Stoke City v Watford Stoke-on-Trent
15:00 BST Stadium: Bet365 Stadium
Watford v Millwall
8 March 2025 36 Watford v Millwall Watford
15:00 BST Stadium: Vicarage Road
Watford v Swansea City
12 March 2025 37 Watford v Swansea City Watford
19:45 BST Stadium: Vicarage Road
Oxford United v Watford
15 March 2025 38 Oxford United v Watford Oxford
15:00 BST Stadium: Kassam Stadium
Plymouth Argyle v Watford
29 March 2025 39 Plymouth Argyle v Watford Plymouth
15:00 BST Stadium: Home Park
Bristol City v Watford
5 April 2025 40 Bristol City v Watford Bristol
15:00 BST Stadium: Ashton Gate
Watford v Hull City
8 April 2025 41 Watford v Hull City Watford
19:45 BST Stadium: Vicarage Road
West Bromwich Albion v Watford
12 April 2025 42 West Bromwich Albion v Watford West Bromwich
15:00 BST Stadium: The Hawthorns
Watford v Burnley
18 April 2025 43 Watford v Burnley Watford
15:00 BST Stadium: Vicarage Road
Portsmouth v Watford
21 April 2025 44 Portsmouth v Watford Portsmouth
15:00 BST Stadium: Fratton Park
Blackburn Rovers v Watford
26 April 2025 45 Blackburn Rovers v Watford Blackburn
15:00 BST Stadium: Ewood Park
Watford v Sheffield Wednesday
3 May 2025 46 Watford v Sheffield Wednesday Watford
15:00 BST Stadium: Vicarage Road

FA Cup

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

EFL Cup

On 27 June, the draw for the first round was made, with Watford being drawn at home against Milton Keynes Dons.[20]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

Watford v Milton Keynes Dons
13 August 2024 First round Watford v Milton Keynes Dons Watford
19:45 BST Stadium: Vicarage Road

Statistics

Appearances and goals

As of 1 July 2024
No. Pos. Nat. Name League FA Cup EFL Cup Total Discipline
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals A yellow rectangle, denoting the yellow penalty card shown to a player being cautioned A red rectangle, denoting the red penalty card shown to a player being sent off
1 GK  AUT Daniel Bachmann 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 DF  ENG Jeremy Ngakia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 DF  CHI Francisco Sierralta 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 DF  NED Wesley Hoedt 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 DF  SCO Ryan Porteous 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 DF  ENG Mattie Pollock 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 FW  ENG Tom Ince 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 FW  DEN Mileta Rajović 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 MF  MAR Imran Louza 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 FW  SWE Ken Sema 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 DF  POR João Ferreira 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 MF  GEO Giorgi Chakvetadze 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17 FW  COL Jorge Hurtado 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
18 MF  COL Yáser Asprilla 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
19 FW  CIV Vakoun Bayo 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
22 DF  ENG James Morris 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
23 GK  ENG Jonathan Bond 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
24 MF  NGA Tom Dele-Bashiru 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
28 FW  NGA Samuel Kalu 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
34 FW  GER Kwadwo Baah 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
39 MF  COD Edo Kayembe 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
45 DF  ENG Ryan Andrews 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW  MLI Mamadou Doumbia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MF  IRE Rocco Vata 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MF  FRA Moussa Sissoko 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

References

  1. ^ "Club Statement" Archived 20 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine. watfordfc.com. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  2. ^ "Cleverley Confirmed As Permanent Head Coach". Watford FC. 24 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  3. ^ "First-team squad". Watford F.C. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Doumbia To Join Hornets". Watford FC. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Official: Bond Rejoins The Hornets". Watford FC. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Official: Vata Is A Hornet!". Watford FC. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Official: Sissoko Rejoins Hornets!". Watford FC. 10 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Koné Departs". Watford FC. 28 June 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  9. ^ a b c "Ngakia Signs New Contract & Trio Depart". Watford FC. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Pool Bring In Ashley Fletcher". Blackpool FC. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Ben Hamer agrees Owls deal". Sheffield Wednesday FC. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Academy Contract Offers & Departures". Watford FC. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Pre-Season: Six Matches Announced". Watford FC. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  14. ^ "Pre-Season: Hibs Friendly Confirmed". Watford FC. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  15. ^ "Pre-Season: Potential Change To Boreham Wood Kick-Off Time". Watford FC. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  16. ^ "EFL Statement: Sheffield United Football Club". English Football League. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  17. ^ "EFL Regulations Section 3 – The League; subsection 9 – Method of Determining League Positions". EFL. Archived from the original on 30 May 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  18. ^ "Fixtures: Watford Begin With Millwall Trip". Watford FC. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  19. ^ a b "Three Matches To Be Shown By Sky Sports". Watford FC. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  20. ^ "Carabao Cup Round One draw confirmed". English Football League. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
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