Watford have opened their summer 2026 business by bringing in right-back Omar Traore from Udinese on an undisclosed fee. The Hornets sit 16th in the Championship with 57 points from 46 games and a recent run of five straight losses.
What just happened at Watford?
On July 16 Watford beat rivals to Traore’s signature, wrapping up their first confirmed arrival of the 2026 window. The 24-year-old racked up 87 Bundesliga appearances across the past three seasons before Udinese allowed him to switch to England. Watford now have a direct replacement for outgoing full-backs while they chase a late push toward the play-offs.
The departures started on July 1 when Tom Ince, Papy Mendy and Jonathan Lawson all left on free transfers. Ince scored two hat-tricks in yellow but found minutes hard to come by under Javi Gracia. Mendy played 26 times before his form dipped sharply, while Lawson made his senior bow at Stoke and then headed to Finland with FF Jaro.
Who has left the club this month?
Tom Dele-Bashiru ended seven years at Watford by signing a permanent €500k deal with Aris FC in Greece on July 22. The midfielder, who made 81 Hornets appearances, had spent last season out on loan at Gençlerbirliği and was never in first-team plans. Giorgi Chakvetadze also exited on July 6, joining sister club Udinese after three years at Vicarage Road despite a fractured metatarsal.
Nathan Baxter left on July 3 after just eight first-team games since arriving from Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer. He joins Leyton Orient where he is expected to start every week. Midfielders Stephen Mfuni and James Abankwah saw their loans end on July 1, with Abankwah already training with Udinese in pre-season.
Which loanees will not return?
Formose Mendy, Saba Goglichidze and Pierre Ekwah all returned to their parent clubs on July 1 after forgettable spells. Mendy started only one Championship game and was hauled off at half-time against Leicester. Goglichidze’s early promise vanished while Ekwah’s midfield glimpses never lasted beyond a handful of starts under Ed Still.
Tobi Adeyemo, Watford’s third-youngest goalscorer after his January 2023 strike, has struggled with injuries and is now searching for a new club. The Hornets would like to bring back Stephen Mfuni, but whether that happens remains unclear.
What’s next for the Hornets?
Watford sit 16th with 57 points from 46 games and a worrying goal difference of minus 12. They are 38 points adrift of Coventry in the title race and face Bristol City at home on February 20 2027. The next transfer window opens in January and could bring further changes before the campaign resumes after the winter break.
