Watford hand squad numbers to four Super Eagles stars amidst Newcastle, Everton links

The 2022-2023 EFL Championship campaign kicked off at the weekend with the Golden Boys playing their first match on Monday night

Watford have announced their squad numbers for the new season, with provisions made for four Super Eagles stars and a few players of Nigerian ancestry.

Defender William Troost-Ekong, and attackers Emmanuel Dennis and Samuel Kalu have retained the numbers they had last term.

Ekong will have five written on the back of his jersey, Dennis will have 25, and Kalu will wear 28.

Dennis, however, may still leave Watford before the transfer window closes as the attacker continues to attract interest from Newcastle United and Everton.

It should be noted that the final set of squad numbers does not have to be submitted to the EFL until after the transfer window has closed.

Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, a new arrival from Dutch side Sparta Rotterdam, has picked 35 as his first number at Vicarage Road.

With hopes of becoming Watford’s first-choice goalie gone, Okoye misses out on the vacant number one shirt, which has been given to Daniel Bachmann.

A few youngsters of Nigerian descent also picked squad numbers ahead of the campaign.

Joseph Oluwagbemiga Hungbo has number 36, Adedapo Awokoya-Mebude has 37, while former Nigeria youth international Tom Dele-Bashiru retains his 36.

The full list of squad numbers is:
1 – Daniel Bachmann
2 – Jeremy Ngakia
5 – William Troost-Ekong
6 – Imrân Louza
8 – Tom Cleverley
9 – Rey Manaj
10 – João Pedro
12 – Ken Sema
13 – Adalberto Peñaranda
14 – Hassane Kamara
15 – Craig Cathcart
16 – Dan Gosling
17 – Ashley Fletcher
18 – Yáser Asprilla
19 – Vakoun Bayo
20 – Domingos Quina
22 – Samir
23 – Ismaïla Sarr
24 – Tom Dele-Bashiru
25 – Emmanuel Dennis
26 – Ben Hamer
27 – Christian Kabasele
28 – Samuel Kalu
30 – Pontus Dahlberg
31 – Francisco Sierralta
32 – Mattie Pollock
33 – Ignacio Pussetto
35 – Maduka Okoye
36 – Joseph Hungbo
37 – Dapo Mebude
39 – Edo Kayembe
41 – Vincent Angelini
42 – James Morris
43 – JJ McKiernan
44 – Adian Manning

Watford will look to start their season on a winning note when they host Sheffield United at the Vicarage Road tonight (Monday, August 2nd).