Young defender signs three-year deal with Hornets

Teenage defender Albert Eames has signed a three-year professional contract with Watford.

It could be seen as quite a significant move by the Hornets, as Eames was part of the Under-18 squad that Tom Cleverley was in charge of earlier in the season.

He was also the first new face that Cleverley brought into a matchday squad, with Eames an unused substitute in the new head coach’s first game – the 1-0 away win at Birmingham last month.

The right-back is still eligible for the Under-18s but has been a regular for the Under-21s, playing in defence on Monday as they beat Coventry 1-0 at London Colney.

Speaking to the club’s official website, watfordfc.com, Eames said: “I’m absolutely delighted. I think every boy works up to this moment since you start playing football so to be here from Under-8s up to now, it’s been a good journey.

“Hopefully now I can push on even more and see what happens in the future.

“It’s been a very smooth transition, obviously with Tom Cleverley and Damon Lathrope being coaches of mine in the past.

“All the boys have given me a very warm welcome, so it’s been very nice.”

Since joining the club’s Academy 10 years ago, Eames has enjoyed his time despite having a period in which he was released.

“I joined at Under-8s and had a smooth running up until Under-14,” he explained.

“Then I got released but, due to Covid, I was given a six-week extension period where I came back with Armand Kavaja who was my Under-15 coach, and I got re-signed.

“Then I was offered my scholarship as an Under-16 all the way up to signing my first professional contract now.”

A defender who likes to get forward down the flank, Eames scored a fine long-range goal for the Unnder-21s at Vicarage Riad back in August.