Watford are interested in bringing Ashley Young back to Vicarage Road almost 20 years after he first left Hertfordshire, according to Sky Sports trio Anthony Joseph, Mark McAdam and Dharmesh Sheth.
Young Could Be Set For Watford Return
The Hornets have reportedly been in regular contact with Young since it was announced that he would be departing Everton upon the expiration of his contract.
Paulo Pezzolano’s side held talks with the 40-year-old earlier in the summer and, although a deal was not agreed at that stage, there is still a distinct possibility that Young ends up at Watford.
Young has expressed his desire to continue playing despite his age, but it should be noted that the former England international also has other offers from unnamed Championship clubs and that he is taking his time to assess all of his potential suitors.
The versatile defender made 36 appearances for Everton last season, scoring once and providing three assists, and he has not made fewer than 24 appearances in a league season since the 2016/17 campaign.
Young created the second-most big chances and had the third-highest expected assists for the Toffees last campaign, showing that he still has a lot to offer to any clubs willing to sign him.
At the start of the summer, the Hornets lost full-back duo Caleb Wiley and Yasser Larouci following the expiration of their loan deals, leaving them with Jeremy Ngakia as their only recognised option on the left-hand side of defence.
They have already secured the signing of an experienced Championship full-back in Marc Bola following the end of his two-year stint in Turkey, but they are in need of one more full-back to round out the squad.
Writer’s View
A return to Watford would be heartwarming for Young, as well as Watford fans, as he looks to be entering the final years of his career.
Young is versatile and incredibly fit for his age, something that could prove invaluable to Paulo Pezzolano as he looks to navigate the intense fixture schedule in the Championship during his first season in English football.
He has played a staggering 485 games in the Premier League, in addition to 37 games for England, and would provide a wealth of experience to a Watford backline which will be slightly on the young side next season after the departure of Angelo Ogbonna.
He could also act as a mentor to Watford’s highly talented young right-back Ryan Andrews. The 20-year-old has established himself as a member of the Hornets’ first team over the past two seasons, but he will be looking to push on next campaign in the hopes of earning himself a big move away from Vicarage Road in the summer of 2026, similarly to what Young did 20 years earlier.
