Barnsley have announced the signing of right-back Tennai Watson, who was part of the Charlton Athletic side that won promotion via the playoffs last season, as per the club’s official website.
The 28-year-old has signed a one-year deal at Oakwell.
Watson Signs For Barnsley
The defender started his career with Reading, playing a handful of games for the Royals in the 2016/17 season before moving on loan to AFC Wimbledon in the summer of 2018.
Watson played 28 times for the Wombles in all competitions before joining Coventry City on loan for the following campaign. The London-born man struggled to break into the Sky Blues’ squad, playing just seven times before his loan ended in January.
Bizarrely, the Englishman spent the majority of the 2020/21 season playing in the Premier League 2 for Reading’s youth team despite turning 24 years old midway through the campaign. After making just two more appearances for the Royals, Watson was released in the summer of 2021.
MK Dons gave the defender a second chance in the third tier of football after his failed loan spell at Coventry, and Watson did not let it go to waste. He played 70 games for the Dons over a two-year period, scoring his first goals in senior football and making himself a standout player in a poor MK Dons team.
He left Stadium MK in the summer of 2023 following the Dons’ relegation and moved to Charlton Athletic. He continued his good form in his first season at the Valley, playing 40 times in all competitions. However, he slightly fell out of favour last season through a mixture of injuries and poor form, starting just six league games for the Addicks.
Upon signing for the Tykes, he said:
“I’m buzzing, really excited. I’m really excited at the prospect. This is a big club with great fans and I can’t wait to get underway.
“I spoke to the gaffer, he has a clear vision of how I can fit into things. It’s definitely somewhere that wants to achieve something, and that aligns with me and what I want to do.”
Barnsley manager Conor Hourihane said the following:
“Tennai is a player who knows what it takes to be successful in this division. He’s athletic, disciplined and brings a competitive edge that will benefit the whole group. We’re looking forward to working with him and integrating him quickly into the squad as we prepare for the remainder of the season ahead.”
Writer’s View
Given that he is only signing a one-year contract, Watson should be a low-risk, potentially high-reward signing for Barnsley.
He was not given enough senior football as he should have been at a young age and he has also struggled with injuries, but he is a quality player when fit.
