Ex-West Ham striker Antonio joins Watford

Watford have announced the signing of former West Ham United striker Michail Antonio on a free transfer.

The 36-year-old made his final senior appearance for the Hammers in their 3-1 defeat by Leicester City on 3 December 2024, suffering a broken leg four days later in a car crash.

Antonio last played in April for Qatari side Al-Sailiya and made a total of four appearances for the club. He had been training with Alessio Dionisi's Hornets for the past month and has joined on a one-year deal.

"Watford is a big club and hopefully I can come in and bring success and help wherever I can." Antonio told the club's website., external

The deal for the Jamaican international has been announced pending international clearance that would allow him to be part of the squad for Saturday's Championship home match with Stoke City.

After being released by the Hammers in June 2025 following a 10-year spell, Antonio returned to the club as part of his rehabilitation and played two games for the under-21 side in Premier League 2.

He trained with Leicester City last December and had also been close to a move to Brentford but sustained a torn calf muscle the day before he was set to sign for the Bees, which scuppered the deal.

Prior to his move to West Ham in September 2015, Antonio played in the EFL for clubs including Reading, Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest.

Antonio, who will wear the number 18 shirt at Vicarage Road, is Watford's 12th signing of the summer.

The Hornets are 12th in the league, having won two, drawn two and lost two of their first six games under Dionisi.