2023–24 Watford F.C. season

The 2023–24 season is the 125th season in the history of Watford and their second consecutive season in the Championship. The club are participating in the Championship, the FA Cup, and the EFL Cup.

Watford
2023–24 season
OwnerGino Pozzo
ChairmanScott Duxbury
Head CoachValérien Ismaël[1]
StadiumVicarage Road
EFL Championship15th
FA CupThird round
EFL CupFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague:
Vakoun Issouf Bayo
Matheus Martins
Mileta Rajović
(3 goals each)
All:
Vakoun Issouf Bayo (4)

Current squad
As of 24 October 2023[2]
No. Name Position Nationality Date of birth (Age) Signed from Since Fee Ends Apps Goals
Goalkeepers
1Daniel BachmannGKAustria9 July 1994 (age 29)Stoke City2017Free Transfer2028990
26Ben HamerGKEngland (1987-11-20) 20 November 1987Swansea City2022Free Transfer202420
Defenders
2Jeremy NgakiaRBEngland7 September 2000 (age 23)West Ham United2020Free Transfer2025700
3Francisco SierraltaCBChile (1997-05-06) 6 May 1997Udinese2020Undisclosed2027682
4Wesley HoedtCBNetherlands (1994-03-06) 6 March 1994Anderlecht2023£2,000,0002025292
5Ryan PorteousCBScotland (1999-03-25) 25 March 1999Hibernian2023£500,0002027302
6Jamal LewisLBNorthern Ireland (1998-01-25) 25 January 1998Newcastle United2023Loan202480
15Mattie PollockCBEngland28 September 2001 (age 22)Grimsby Town2021£300,000202680
42James MorrisLBEngland (2001-11-23) 23 November 2001Southampton2021Free Transfer2026210
45Ryan AndrewsRBEngland (2004-08-26) 26 August 2004Academy2012—2024171
Midfielders
8Jake LivermoreDMEngland (1989-11-14) 14 November 1989West Bromwich Albion2023Free Transfer202470
10Imran LouzaCMMorocco (1999-05-01) 1 May 1999Nantes2021£10,000,0002028566
11Ismaël KonéCMCanada16 June 2002 (age 21)Montréal2023£8,000,0002027280
16Giorgi ChakvetadzeAMGeorgia (country)29 August 1999 (age 24)Gent2023Loan2024110
18Yáser AsprillaAMColombia (2003-11-19) 19 November 2003Envigado2022£3,000,0002026512
24Tom Dele-BashiruCMNigeria17 September 1999 (age 24)Manchester City2019Free Transfer2025232
39Edo KayembeDMDemocratic Republic of the Congo3 June 1998 (age 25)KAS Eupen2022£4,700,0002026440
Forwards
7Tom InceRWEngland (1992-01-30) 30 January 1992Reading2023£500,0002025111
9Mileta RajovićSTDenmark17 July 1999 (age 24)Kalmar FF2023£1,000,0002028103
12Ken SemaLWSweden30 September 1993 (age 30)Östersunds2018Undisclosed202513512
14Rhys HealeySTEngland (1994-12-06) 6 December 1994Toulouse2023Free Transfer202530
19Vakoun BayoSTIvory Coast (1997-01-10) 10 January 1997Sporting Charleroi2022£5,800,0002027388
37Matheus MartinsLWBrazil16 July 2003 (age 20)Udinese2023Loan2024193
Out on Loan
13João FerreiraRBPortugal (2001-03-22) 22 March 2001Benfica2023£2,500,000202751
17Ashley FletcherSTEngland2 October 1995 (age 28)Middlesbrough2021Free Transfer202662
28Samuel KaluRWNigeria26 August 1997 (age 26)Bordeaux2022£3,000,0002025130
34Kwadwo BaahLWGermany (2003-01-27) 27 January 2003Rochdale2021Free Transfer202600
47Shaq FordeSTEngland (2004-05-05) 5 May 2004Academy2012—202410
—Jorge CabezasSTColombia6 September 2003 (age 20)Real Cartagena2023Undisclosed202900

Transfers

In
Date Position Nationality Player From Fee Ref.
27 June 2023RWEnglandTom InceEngland ReadingUndisclosed[3]
1 July 2023CFColombiaJorge CabezasColombia Real CartagenaUndisclosed[4]
1 July 2023CFEnglandRhys HealeyFrance ToulouseFree Transfer[5]
20 July 2023LBEnglandCharlie Stallard †England St Neots TownFree Transfer[6]
21 July 2023DMEnglandJake LivermoreEngland West Bromwich AlbionFree Transfer[7]
9 August 2023CBScotlandAli Gould †Scotland MotherwellFree Transfer[8]
25 August 2023CFDenmarkMileta RajovićSweden KalmarUndisclosed[9]
14 September 2023CMGermanyJunior Gyamfi † Free agent—[10]

† Signed initially for the Under-21s

Out
Date Position Nationality Player To Fee Ref.
14 June 2023CFBrazilJoão PedroEngland Brighton & Hove AlbionUndisclosed[11]
30 June 2023AMPeruAndrés Aguilar Free agentReleased[12]
30 June 2023CFDemocratic Republic of the CongoBritt AssombalongaTurkey AntalyasporReleased[13][14]
30 June 2023CMCuraçaoLeandro BacunaNetherlands FC GroningenReleased[13][15]
30 June 2023LBAlbaniaChristos Batzelis Free agentReleased[12]
30 June 2023RWEnglandAaron Benn Free agentReleased[12]
30 June 2023CBNorthern IrelandCraig CathcartBelgium KV KortrijkReleased[16][17]
30 June 2023CMEnglandTom CleverleyRetired[18]
30 June 2023DMCyprusMax Delyfer Free agentReleased[12]
30 June 2023CMEnglandJordan FankweEngland Salford CityReleased[12][19]
30 June 2023CMEnglandDan Gosling Free agentReleased[20]
30 June 2023CMEnglandEthan Goulding Free agentReleased[12]
30 June 2023CFEnglandDamani Hunter Free agentReleased[12]
30 June 2023CMEnglandAdian ManningEngland Norwich CityReleased[12][21]
30 June 2023LBRomaniaBogdan Marian Free agentReleased[12]
30 June 2023CMNorthern IrelandJJ McKiernanEngland MorecambeReleased[12][22]
30 June 2023CBEnglandHarvey Peters Free agentReleased[12]
30 June 2023CFItalyEzio TourayEngland WeymouthReleased[12][23]
1 July 2023CMColombiaJuergen ElitimPoland Legia WarsawUndisclosed[24]
1 July 2023RBSpainMario GasparSpain ElcheMutual Consent[24][25]
1 July 2023CMPortugalDomingos QuinaItaly UdineseUndisclosed[24]
4 July 2023CBNigeriaWilliam Troost-EkongGreece PAOKUndisclosed[26]
15 July 2023LWEnglandAdrian BlakeNetherlands UtrechtFree Transfer[12]
19 July 2023RWEnglandJoseph HungboGermany 1. FC NürnbergUndisclosed[27]
25 July 2023CBBelgiumChristian KabaseleItaly UdineseUndisclosed[28]
25 July 2023RWSenegalIsmaïla SarrFrance MarseilleUndisclosed[29]
17 August 2023RWArgentinaIgnacio PussettoArgentina HuracánMutual Consent[30][31]
24 August 2023GKNigeriaMaduka OkoyeItaly UdineseUndisclosed[32]

Loaned in
Date Position Nationality Player From Date until Ref.
4 July 2023LWBrazilMatheus MartinsItaly UdineseEnd of Season[33]
27 July 2023LBNorthern IrelandJamal LewisEngland Newcastle UnitedEnd of Season[34]
2 August 2023AMGeorgia (country)Giorgi ChakvetadzeBelgium GentEnd of Season[35]

Loaned out
Date Position Nationality Player To Date until Ref.
1 July 2023CMColombiaÓber AlmanzaColombia Orsomarso31 December 2023[24]
25 July 2023CFEnglandAshley FletcherEngland Sheffield WednesdayEnd of Season[36]
1 August 2023RBPortugalJoão FerreiraItaly UdineseEnd of Season[37]
3 August 2023CFColombiaJorge Cabezas HurtadoUnited States New York Red Bulls31 December 2023[38]
4 August 2023CBWalesGeorge AbbottEngland Chippenham Town1 September 2023[lower-alpha 1][39][40]
14 August 2023CFEnglandShaq FordeEngland Leyton OrientEnd of Season[41]
18 August 2023LWGermanyKwadwo BaahEngland Burton AlbionEnd of Season[42]
7 September 2023RWNigeriaSamuel KaluSwitzerland Lausanne-SportEnd of Season[43]
24 October 2023RBEnglandHamzat BalogunEngland Bedford Town30 November 2023[44]
  1. Abbott was recalled back from his three-month loan at Chippenham Town early.

Pre-season and friendlies

On 30 May, Watford announced their first two pre-season friendlies, against Boreham Wood and Stevenage.[45] However, the friendly against Stevenage was later cancelled as they were drawn against each other in the 1st round of EFL Cup. [46]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

5 July 2023 Friendly Boreham Wood 0–0 Watford Borehamwood
19:30 BST Report Stadium: Meadow Park
Attendance: 1,703
8 July 2023 Friendly Arsenal 1–1 Watford London Colney
14:00 BST Marquinhos 54' Report Koné 42' Stadium: Arsenal Training Centre
Attendance: 0 (Behind closed doors)
18 July 2023 Friendly Stevenage Cancelled Watford Stevenage
19:45 BST Stadium: The Lamex Stadium
Note: Due to the two sides being drawn against each other in the 2023–24 EFL Cup the friendly was cancelled.[47]
22 July 2023 Friendly Crystal Palace 2–1 Watford Beckenham
13:00 BST Édouard 54' 75' Report Kayembe 68' Stadium: Crystal Palace FC Training Ground
Attendance: 0 (Behind closed doors)
29 July 2023 Friendly Watford 3–0 Peterborough United Watford
15:00 BST Bayo 14', 67'
Martins 19'		 Report Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 0 (Behind closed doors)


Competitions

Overall record
Competition First match Last match Starting round Final position Record
Pld W D L GF GA GD Win %
Championship 5 August 2023 4 May 2024 Matchday 1 13 4 4 5 16 16 +0 030.77
FA Cup Third round 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0 !—
EFL Cup 8 August 2023 First round First round 1 0 1 0 1 1 +0 000.00
Total 14 4 5 5 17 17 +0 028.57

Last updated: 24 October 2023
Source: Soccerway

Championship
Main article: 2023–24 EFL Championship

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
12 Birmingham City 13 5 3 5 15 14 +1 18
13 Bristol City 13 5 3 5 15 14 +1 18
14 Norwich City 13 5 2 6 24 24 0 17
15 Watford 13 4 4 5 16 16 0 16
16 Millwall 13 4 4 5 13 16 −3 16
17 Stoke City 13 5 1 7 14 18 −4 16
18 Plymouth Argyle 13 4 3 6 21 19 +2 15
Updated to match(es) played on 25 October 2023. Source: EFL Official Website
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results; 5) Wins; 6) Away goals; 7) Penalty points (sec 9.5); 8) 12-point sending off offences[48]

Results summary
OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
13 4 4 5 16 16  0 16 3 2 2 11 6  +5 1 2 3 5 10  −5

Last updated: 24 October 2023.
Source: Soccerway

Results by round
Round12345678910111213
GroundHHAHAHHAHAAHA
ResultWDLLDWDLLLDWW
Position13915181214162021201915
Updated to match(es) played on 24 October 2023. Source: Soccerway
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

On 22 June, the EFL Championship fixtures were released.[49]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

5 August 2023 1 Watford 4–0 Queens Park Rangers Watford
15:00 BST Dele-Bashiru 1'
Louza 20'
Martins 38'
Morris Yellow card 45+1'
Bayo 43'		 Report Dykes Yellow card 67'
Armstrong Yellow card 76'		 Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 20,087
Referee: Thomas Bramall
12 August 2023 2 Watford 0–0 Plymouth Argyle Watford
15:00 BST Report Scarr Yellow card 71'
Mumba Yellow card 78'		 Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 19,446
Referee: Geoff Eltringham
19 August 2023 3 Stoke City 1–0 Watford Stoke-on-Trent
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Bet365 Stadium
Attendance: 21,193
Referee: James Bell
27 August 2023 4 Watford 0–1 Blackburn Rovers Watford
12:00 BST Hoedt Yellow card 24'
Louza Yellow card 69'
Andrews Yellow card 69'		 Report Hyam Yellow card 63'
Hedges 72'
Rankin-Costello Yellow card 77'		 Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 17,810
Referee: Gavin Ward
2 September 2023 5 Coventry City 3–3 Watford Coventry
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Coventry Building Society Stadium
Attendance: 24,539
Referee: David Webb
16 September 2023 6 Watford 2–0 Birmingham City Watford
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 18,932
Referee: Keith Stroud
20 September 2023 7 Watford 2–2 West Bromwich Albion Watford
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 16,742
Referee: Leigh Doughty
23 September 2023 8 Leeds United 3–0 Watford Leeds
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 36,236
Referee: Jeremy Simpson
30 September 2023 9 Watford 2–3 Middlesbrough Watford
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 18,446
Referee: Oliver Langford
4 October 2023 10 Sunderland 2–0 Watford Sunderland
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Stadium of Light
Attendance: 38,120
Referee: Andy Davies
7 October 2023 11 Cardiff City 1–1 Watford Leckwith
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 19,804
Referee: Gavin Ward
21 October 2023 12 Watford 1–0 Sheffield Wednesday Watford
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 19,102
Referee: Dean Whitestone
24 October 2023 13 Swansea City 0–1 Watford Landore
19:45 GMT Report
Stadium: Swansea.com Stadium
Attendance: 14,698
Referee: Andrew Kitchen

FA Cup
Main article: 2023–24 FA Cup

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

EFL Cup
Main article: 2023–24 EFL Cup

Watford were drawn away to Stevenage in the first round.[50]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

8 August 2023 First round Stevenage 1–1
(4–3 p)		 Watford Stevenage
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Lamex Stadium
Attendance: 4,495
Referee: Charles Breakspear
Penalties

Statistics

Appearances and goals
As of 24 October 2023
No. Pos. Nat. Name League FA Cup EFL Cup Total Discipline
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals A yellow rectangle, denoting the yellow penalty card shown to a player being cautioned A red rectangle, denoting the red penalty card shown to a player being sent off
1GK AUT Daniel Bachmann 130000013020
2DF ENG Jeremy Ngakia 8+2000109+2010
3DF CHI Francisco Sierralta 100001011030
4DF NED Wesley Hoedt 131001014140
5DF SCO Ryan Porteous 11+10001012+1050
6DF NIR Jamal Lewis 6+2000006+2020
7FW ENG Tom Ince 7+4100007+4100
8MF ENG Jake Livermore 4+20000+104+3010
9FW DEN Mileta Rajović 5+5300005+5300
10MF MAR Imran Louza 10+21001011+2130
11MF CAN Ismaël Koné 4+60000+104+7010
12FW SWE Ken Sema 5+2100106+2100
14FW ENG Rhys Healey 0+20000+100+3000
15DF ENG Mattie Pollock 0+3000000+3000
16MF GEO Giorgi Chakvetadze 1+10000001+10000
18MF COL Yáser Asprilla 3+9100003+9100
19FW CIV Vakoun Bayo 9+33001110+3410
24MF NGA Tom Dele-Bashiru 10+11001011+1110
26GK ENG Ben Hamer 0000101000
37FW BRA Matheus Martins 11+13001012+1300
39MF COD Edo Kayembe 3+50000+103+6010
42DF ENG James Morris 5000106010
45DF ENG Ryan Andrews 5+41000+105+5121

Goalscorers

As of 24 October 2023

Rank Pos. No. Player Championship FA Cup EFL Cup Total
1 FW19Ivory Coast Vakoun Bayo3014
2 FW9Denmark Mileta Rajović3003
FW37Brazil Matheus Martins3003
4 DF4Netherlands Wesley Hoedt1001
FW7England Tom Ince1001
MF10Morocco Imran Louza1001
FW12Sweden Ken Sema1001
MF18Colombia Yáser Asprilla1001
MF24Nigeria Tom Dele-Bashiru1001
DF45England Ryan Andrews1001
Total160117

Assists

As of 24 October 2023

Rank Pos. No. Player Championship FA Cup EFL Cup Total
1 FW7England Tom Ince2002
MF10Morocco Imran Louza2002
MF18Colombia Yáser Asprilla2002
MF24Nigeria Tom Dele-Bashiru1012
4 DF2England Jeremy Ngakia1001
DF3Chile Francisco Sierralta1001
DF5Scotland Ryan Porteous1001
MF11Canada Ismaël Koné1001
FW12Sweden Ken Sema1001
MF16Georgia (country) Giorgi Chakvetadze1001
FW19Ivory Coast Vakoun Bayo1001

Clean sheets

As of 24 October 2023

No. Player Championship FA Cup EFL Cup Total
1Austria Daniel Bachmann5005
Total5005

References
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