Watford FC reaped rewards for their persistence with £500k transfer: View
Purchasing teams are never willing to overspend for a player, and this risk is amplified in cases where the player is unknown.
Troy Deeney was considered a significant risk by Watford, as the team saw potential in the player after two successful seasons at League One Walsall.
After scoring 12 goals in the 2008–09 season and 14 more the following year, the striker had solidified his position as a regular for the Saddlers.
Therefore, a move was always on the cards, and it was ultimately the Hornets who sealed a deal for Deeney for an initial £500,000.
Watford remained strong in their pursuit of Troy Deeney
The 22-year-old’s transfer wasn’t easy, though, as Walsall manager Chris Hutchings disclosed that the Midlands team had rejected multiple offers for the player before a deal was struck.
There would undoubtedly have been questions in Watford’s mind about whether they should keep going after Deeney with such vigour.
Although he was scoring goals in League One, his goal totals did not exactly suggest he would adapt well to the step up. He had not played above the third tier.
Watford, to their credit, pulled through the agreement, with the parties involved obviously believing that Deeney had something unique in him.
It was also a wise decision, as this action will go down as one of the greatest in Watford’s recent history.
Troy Deeney became a Watford legend
Deeney’s debut season at Vicarage Road didn’t go as planned; he only scored twice, and the majority of his 36 appearances were from the bench.
Even yet, not many at the time would have predicted that he would go on to play a significant role for the team, but that is precisely what he accomplished.
Deeney reached double figures in the Championship during the 2011–12 season, but that was only the beginning for the target man, who swiftly advanced up the ranks in a yellow shirt.
He scored 65 goals in the next three years, 21 of which came in the 2014–15 season when the Hornets were promoted to the Championship, making him one of the most proficient attackers in recent memory.
| Troy Deeney’s Watford League Record (Source: Transfermarkt) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Division | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 2010/11 | Championship | 36 | 2 | 4 |
| 2011/12 | Championship | 43 | 11 | 5 |
| 2012/13 | Championship | 42 | 20 | 10 |
| 2013/14 | Championship | 44 | 24 | 4 |
| 2014/15 | Championship | 42 | 21 | 10 |
| 2015/16 | Premier League | 38 | 13 | 8 |
| 2016/17 | Premier League | 37 | 10 | 4 |
| 2017/18 | Premier League | 29 | 5 | 2 |
| 2018/19 | Premier League | 32 | 9 | 5 |
| 2019/20 | Premier League | 27 | 10 | 2 |
| 2020/21 | Championship | 19 | 7 | 3 |
| 2021/22 | Premier League | 2 | – | – |
Once more, Deeney’s promotion raised concerns about his ability to handle the pressure, but he decisively responded to those concerns by continuing to play a key role in the team and by raising the bar for new recruits.
At this point, Deeney had been named captain and his personality was on full display every time he crossed the white line, demonstrating his leadership abilities.
With the captain’s goals playing a pivotal role during that time, Watford enjoyed five consecutive years in the top flight, something they hadn’t done since the 1980s. His drive and commitment were immense.Those highs didn’t last throughout Deeney’s period at Watford, as they were relegated, but he did play a role in helping the side back to the Premier League, before departing for boyhood club Birmingham City near the end of the summer window in 2021.
It was a swift exit for the striker and not the big send-off Deeney deserved considering he scored 140 goals in 419 games.
Nonetheless, everyone associated with Watford will always cherish his contribution, and those who advocated for his signing for £500,000 will look back on some exceptional business.
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