Watford winger Othmane Maamma is attracting interest from European clubs Bologna and FC Porto. The speculation emerged this week as the transfer window enters its final phase.
Maamma's performances for Watford have put him on the radar of several clubs. The Moroccan international joined the Hornets in the summer of 2024 on a four-year contract from Montpellier. Last season, he made 25 Championship appearances, scoring four goals and providing one assist, a contribution that earned him Watford's Young Player of the Season award for 2025/26.
Bologna and FC Porto are the latest clubs credited with an interest in the 20-year-old. This follows previous attention from other European sides. In the summer of 2024, Benfica, Everton, and Crystal Palace were all linked with a move for Maamma. Lille and several other Premier League teams were also interested during the January 2024 window.
Watford's stance on a potential fee has shifted. In April 2024, the club had placed a €15 million price tag on the player. A later suggestion was that a bid of around €10 million could be enough for Watford to consider a sale. As of now, there have been little concrete talks regarding a departure.
Othmane Maamma has developed into a key figure at Vicarage Road since his arrival. His breakout 2025/26 campaign was highlighted by his Young Player of the Season win. He started the current 2024/25 season strongly under manager Alessio Dionisi, averaging a 7.33 match rating from FotMob across Watford's opening four games in all competitions, though he did not register a direct goal contribution in those matches.
His form comes as Watford sit 7th in the Championship table, having taken four points from their first two league games. They are just two points behind early leaders Millwall. The team has scored three goals and conceded two, giving them a +1 goal difference ahead of their next match against Swansea City on September 1st.
Before his move to England, Maamma made his mark in France. He made his Ligue 1 debut for Montpellier against Monaco in May 2024. Just a week later, he scored his first professional goal in a 2-2 draw at Lens. At 18 years and 226 days old, he became Montpellier's third-youngest goalscorer. He finished his time in France with 14 league appearances and two goals.
On the international stage, Maamma helped Morocco win the 2025 U20 World Cup. He was a standout performer in the tournament, registering one goal and four assists across seven matches. His displays earned him the prestigious Golden Ball award for the best player at the competition.
The speculation arrives during a busy period for Watford. The club has already seen several players depart this summer, including Nestory Irankunda and Giorgi Chakvetadze. With young star Rocco Vata also linked with a move away, it has been suggested Watford cannot afford to lose both Maamma and Vata in the same window.
Manager Alessio Dionisi will be keen to maintain squad stability as his team prepares for a tough away fixture at Swansea, who currently sit 9th. Keeping key players like Maamma could be important for Watford's push up the table. Fans can check the latest team news and availability on our squad page as the season progresses.
