Watford have confirmed the arrival of veteran striker Michail Antonio, signing the 36-year-old Jamaican international on a free transfer and handing him a one-year deal at Vicarage Road.
Antonio's last competitive appearance for West Ham United came in a 3-1 defeat against Leicester City on 3 December 2024, a match that proved to be his final outing in a Hammers shirt. Four days after that game, he suffered a broken leg in a car crash, triggering a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
A long road back
West Ham released Antonio in June 2025 after a decade of service at the club. During his rehabilitation, he returned to train with the Hammers and made two appearances for their under-21 side in Premier League 2. He also had a stint with Qatari club Al-Sailiya, featuring four times before his contract there ended.
His return to English football was not without further setbacks. Antonio had been on the verge of joining Brentford, but a torn calf muscle sustained the day before he was due to put pen to paper ended those negotiations. He also spent time training with Leicester City last December.
Antonio has now been training with Watford — under manager Alessio Dionisi — for the past month, and the club have wasted no time in formalising the arrangement. The signing is subject to international clearance, which the club hope will arrive in time for Saturday's Championship home fixture against Stoke City.
