Report: Premier League returnees sign Super Eagles star

The Hornets have made their second Nigerian signing of the summer to bring the total number of Nigerian players at the club to five 

Premier League returnees Watford have signed Nigerian Midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo. Etebo joins Watford on a season-long loan deal from Stoke City with an option to buy as per The Athletic’s Adam Leventhal, although the official announcement will come after he has passed his medicals.

The former Under-23 champion, who shone like a million star’s in the 2015 edition of the CAF Under-23 Nations cup, was signed to Stoke City in July 2018 for €7.2m. He played two seasons at the Potters, after which he was sent out on loan.

The defensive midfielder has spent the last two seasons on loan. He spent a year at Getafe, and last year he was at Turkish giants, Galatasaray.

Etebo becomes the second Nigerian signed by Watford after Emmanuel Dennis this summer.

The former CAF most promising talent looks to join an already congested midfield, with the likes of Tom Cleverly and Will Hughes.

But with his combative and rugged ability, he would look to force his way into the lineup when Watford begin their Premier League campaign at home against Aston Villa on the 14th of August.

Etebo’s arrival means the number of Nigerian contingents at Vicarage Road is now five. The Hornets already have William Troost-Ekong, Isaac Success, Emmanuel Dennis and Tom Dele-Bashiru at the club.