Michail Antonio Joins Watford on Free Transfer

Michail Antonio has a new home – and Watford have a statement signing to lead their attack.

The Championship club have snapped up the former West Ham United striker on a free transfer, handing the 36-year-old a one-year deal after a month training under Alessio Dionisi at London Colney. He will wear the number 18 shirt at Vicarage Road.

“Watford is a big club and hopefully I can come in and bring success and help wherever I can,” Antonio told the club’s website, laying out his intentions in typically direct fashion.

From car crash to comeback

Antonio’s route to Hertfordshire has been anything but straightforward.

He made his final senior appearance for West Ham in a 3-1 defeat at Leicester City on 3 December 2024, then suffered a broken leg just four days later in a car crash. Released by the Hammers in June 2025 after a decade of service, he went back to the club to rebuild his fitness, even turning out twice for their under-21s in Premier League 2.

The veteran forward then headed abroad, joining Qatari side Al-Sailiya, where he featured only four times before his spell there ended in April. The search for a new challenge dragged on.

There were near-misses. He trained with Leicester City last December. A move to Brentford was effectively done, only for a torn calf muscle on the eve of signing to kill the deal and stall his next step.

Now comes Watford, and a chance to restart.

A proven EFL force returns

Before his West Ham chapter began in September 2015, Antonio carved out a reputation as one of the EFL’s most dangerous wide forwards and strikers, with spells at Reading, Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest. That experience matters in a division as unforgiving as the Championship.

Watford, 12th in the table after two wins, two draws and two defeats from their opening six games under Dionisi, have been busy this summer. Antonio becomes their 12th signing, but arguably the most eye-catching in terms of name and pedigree.

The Jamaican international’s arrival has been announced subject to international clearance, which the club hope will land in time for him to be involved in Saturday’s home game against Stoke City.

If the paperwork drops as expected, a player who has spent a decade bullying Premier League defences could walk out at Vicarage Road in yellow and black, with a point to prove and a new chapter to write in the Championship.