Watford have today announced the arrival of Nathan Baxter into their competitive goalkeeping ranks, following the expiration of the 26-year-old’s Bolton Wanderers contract this summer.
Baxter, who has appeared 72 times for the Trotters in all competitions, has agreed to a two-year commitment with Watford and will look to make the step up again to the Championship next campaign.
The Hornets had been monitoring the 26-year-old situation with Bolton for quite some time, with the Hertfordshire club finally seeing a deal come to fruition without a transfer fee. Baxter will join Hector Kyprianou – formerly of League One’s Peterborough United – at Vicarage Road ahead of an important season for Watford. The midfielder signed on a five-year agreement following the conclusion of his own contract with Posh.
Egil Selvik and Daniel Bachmann remain at the club for now, having both contributed in the number one spot last season. However, the latter received a gutting injury in January and Pink Un even suggested that the Austrian may be on his way out, subject to the interest from Norwich City.
A More Familiar Consistency
Bolton’s former (as of this summer) number one has enjoyed a largely consistent place in the first team these past couple of seasons. With 62 league appearances to his name in this period, Baxter had only previously accumulated more than this total in the two seasons on loan with Woking then Yeovil Town – between 2017 and 2019.
More minutes under the 26-year-old’s belt and relatively impressive performances for Wanderers has earned Baxter a summer switch to Watford. Having graduated through Chelsea’s academy, but never making a professional appearance for the Blues, the Hornets are picking up a Premier League-produced goalkeeper with earlier experience in the National League, Scottish Premiership and League Two.
Hull City acquired Baxter’s services in their 2021/22 Championship season, handing the former two-time UEFA Youth League winner with Chelsea 28 appearances over the two year spell. With a constant rotation between the sticks, Baxter never cemented a starting place for long and will be hoping his spell at Bolton can rejuvenate a second tier ambition with the Hornets.
Baxter’s Comments
Watford’s fresh signing was interviewed by the club’s media team this morning, with Baxter offering his thoughts on the Hornets’ target ahead of a new season:
“What player doesn’t have the dream of playing in the Premier League. To sit in front of a club and they tell you that is their ambition, it’s obviously very attractive.”
The 26-year-old also spoke about the process around the deal and last season’s early interest:
“I knew about the club’s interest last season and as soon as the season finished they wanted to meet me.
“I had a great conversation with the goalkeeping coach and a great conversation with Gian Luca [Nani] and they really sold what they saw in me and where they see my career going.”
Writer’s View
Baxter is more than a competent League One ‘keeper and it will be interesting to see how he bursts onto the scene in the second division once again. It would be fair to say that Hull never gave the 26-year-old a proper chance consistently and is now presented with the perfect opportunity to prove the Tigers wrong.
The goalkeeping union is getting increasingly stronger at Watford, with Egil Selvik and Daniel Bachmann having shared contributions last season. Baxter as an emergent signing will likely jeopardise both of the aforementioned players’ roles with the club.
The former Bolton man seems like the most understandable fit from a tactical point of view in the long term, but it may take some time for Baxter to settle in properly.
