Marco Silva’s first signing as Watford boss has been confirmed as Derby’s Will Hughes.
Silva, who of course replaced Walter Mazzarri when he moved on at the end of last season, has seen enough potential in Hughes, 22, often touted with a Premier League move, to bring him into the topflight at Vicarage Road.
Hughes has signed a five year contract at Watford, arriving for an undisclosed fee, which Sky Sports understands as being an initial £4.5m rising to as much as £7m.
Having made his debut as a 16 year at Derby in 2011 Hughes went on to make 190 appearances for the Rams, which would have been more but for the fact he missed virtually the whole of the 2015-16 season with a damaged cruciate.
Watford confirmed this deal was ‘subject to completion of medical tests on his return to the UK’ as Hughes is currently on England U21 duty at the European Championships in Poland – the midfielder has helped England into the semi-finals.
