Antonio joins Watford on free transfer
Antonio joins Watford on free transfer
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Key Points
1
Antonio’s final senior appearance for West Ham came in a 3-1 defeat by Leicester City on 3 December 2024; he suffered the broken leg in a car crash four days later.
2
After being released by West Ham in June 2025, Antonio returned to the club during his rehabilitation and played two matches for the under-21 side in Premier League 2.
3
A prospective move to Brentford fell through after Antonio suffered a torn calf muscle the day before he was due to sign; he also trained with Leicester City during his recovery.
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During his decade at West Ham, Antonio made 323 appearances, scored 83 goals in all competitions and helped the club win the 2023 UEFA Europa Conference League; he had joined from Nottingham Forest in 2015 for a reported £7 million.
5
Watford identified Antonio as attacking reinforcement after the departures of Nestory Irankunda to Sporting CP for €15 million and Giorgi Chakvetadze to Udinese for €2.55 million; his arrival was the club’s 12th signing of the summer.
Michail Antonio, the 36-year-old former West Ham striker, has signed with Championship club Watford on a free transfer with a one-year contract. IRIE FM reports that Antonio returns to English football nearly two years after a severe car crash in December 2024 left him with a broken leg. The Jamaican international most recently played for Qatar's Al-Sailiya and could debut against Stoke City pending international clearance.
Antonio became West Ham's leading Premier League scorer during a decade at the club, netting 68 goals in 323 total appearances and helping the Hammers win the 2023 UEFA Europa Conference League. The New York Times notes that Watford Observer identified Antonio as attacking reinforcement after losing Nestory Irankunda to Sporting CP for €15 million and Giorgi Chakvetadze to Udinese for €2.55 million. His arrival marks the club's 12th signing of the summer.
A Long Road Back From Serious Injury
Antonio's career stalled after his final appearance for West Ham on December 3, 2024, against Leicester City in a 3-1 defeat. The Mirror reports that four days later, a car crash left him with a broken leg that sidelined him completely. He spent months recovering but struggled to regain momentum even after rejoining West Ham during rehabilitation.
After West Ham released him in June 2025, Antonio made two appearances for the club's under-21 side in Premier League 2. A prospective move to Brentford collapsed when he tore his calf muscle the day before signing. He also trained with Leicester City during his recovery before ultimately signing with Watford.
West Ham's Record Scorer Seeking Fresh Start
Antonio joined West Ham from Nottingham Forest in 2015 for a reported £7 million and became a club institution over the next decade. The New York Times notes he scored 83 goals in all competitions while making 323 appearances. His 68 Premier League goals stand as West Ham's most in the league, cementing his status as a fan favorite.
The striker's time at Al-Sailiya in Qatar provided limited competitive football with just four appearances. At 36 years old, Antonio faces steep odds returning to regular play in the Championship. But Watford Observer suggests the club believes his experience and leadership merit the investment as an attacking option.
Watford Rebuilding Attack After Summer Departures
Watford needed to strengthen its attack after losing two key attacking players in quick succession. Irankunda's €15 million move to Sporting CP and Chakvetadze's €2.55 million transfer to Udinese left the club thin in that area. Antonio arrives as part of a broader recruitment strategy in what has been an active summer window.
Head Topics reports that Antonio will wear the number 18 jersey for Watford and has already trained with the squad for a month. His availability depends on receiving international clearance, which should come soon. The club signed him on a low-risk free transfer, potentially cushioning the impact if his injury recovery limits his playing time.
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