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Antonio Joins Watford on One-Year Deal
Confirmed
In Short: Former West Ham striker Michail Antonio has signed with Watford on a one-year contract, aiming to help the Championship club succeed.
Former West Ham striker Michail Antonio has signed with Watford on a one-year contract, aiming to help the Championship club succeed. The 36-year-old, who had been rebuilding his career after a serious car crash in December 2024, joins Watford as a free agent following a brief spell with Al-Sailiya in Qatar.
Antonio, who had been training with Watford for the past month, is expected to wear the No.18 shirt and could make his debut against Stoke City this weekend, subject to international clearance and match fitness. Watford, currently 12th in the Championship, are hoping Antonio can bring success and help wherever he can.
The striker, who had been close to joining Brentford after training with Leicester City, is eager to resume his career in England. Antonio previously played for Reading, Sheffield Wednesday, Nottingham Forest, and West Ham, where he was the all-time Premier League top scorer before his exit in 2025.
Antonio expressed his enthusiasm about joining Watford, stating, 'Watford is a big club and hopefully I can come in and bring success and help wherever I can.' The club's manager, Alessio Dionisi, is optimistic about Antonio's potential impact, saying, 'We are pleased to welcome Michail to the club.
Antonio's return to English football comes after a challenging period following his car crash, which left him out of action for several months. His journey back to the pitch has been marked by a series of training stints and brief spells with various clubs, including Al-Sailiya and Brentford, before Watford finally secured his services.
What's confirmed
- Former West Ham United striker Michail Antonio has completed a return to English football after signing for Watford.
- The 36-year-old joined Watford as a free agent after training with the Championship club for the past month, following his spell with Qatari side Al-Sailiya.
- He had also been close to joining Brentford after training with Leicester City, but a torn calf muscle suffered a day before his proposed move to the Bees ended the deal.
- “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.
- Antonio began his professional career in the EFL with Reading, before playing for Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest ahead of his move to West Ham in September 2015.
- Antonio subsequently had a brief spell with Al-Sailiya, making four appearances and last playing in April.
- Antonio now has the opportunity to resume his career in England with Watford, subject to international clearance that would make him available for Saturday’s Championship home game against Stoke City.
- The striker will wear the number 18 shirt at Vicarage Road and become Watford’s 12th signing of the summer.
What's still developing
- Read West Ham previously reported how Antonio had been handed the chance to train with Watford ahead of a possible West Ham reunion.
- The former Hammer said Watford have a strong group and hopes he can help the club succeed once he is fully up to speed.
- The 36-year-old has agreed a one-year deal with the Championship club after spending recent weeks training at Vicarage Road.
- He later returned to competitive football with Al-Sailiya, with Read West Ham covering Antonio’s move to Qatar earlier this year.
- Michail Antonio Watford West Ham United Championship Car Crash Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
- We are pleased to announce Michail Antonio has joined the club on a permanent deal ✍️🤩 Welcome, Michail! 🔗 https://t.co/sSwX0ZBQ3v pic.twitter.com/KvXzkB0zdT Antonio's exit from West Ham has clearly left scar tissue, and he hasn't been shy about saying so in the year since.
- West Ham's all-time Premier League top scorer has signed a one-year deal with Championship side Watford, nearly two years after the near-fatal car crash that ended his Hammers career — and while his comeback from that injury is genuinely worth celebrating, the choice of club feels like he’s fulfilling a personal vendetta.
- Four days later, Antonio suffered a broken leg in a car crash and spent several months recovering.