Watford FC closing in on double transfer swoop involving Chelsea

May 22, 2025 GG England Championship 0

Watford FC closing in on double transfer swoop involving Chelsea.

james abankwah caleb wiley watford fc

Watford are closing in on a double transfer deal for James Abankwah and Caleb Wiley, both of whom were loaned out at Vicarage Road last season.
The Hornets’ manager, Tom Cleverley, has been replaced by Uruguayan coach Paulo Pezzolano, who previously led Real Valladolid.While that decision did not go over well with the entire Watford fanbase, their quick decision to sign Peterborough United midfielder Hector Kyprianou on a free transfer has been well received, and they appear to be well positioned to add to their summer business in the weeks ahead.

Watford FC is close to completing James Abankwah and Caleb Wiley deals.

James Abankwah for Watford

According to Watford Observer journalist Andrew French, negotiations to sign Udinese defender Abankwah on a permanent basis and another loan deal for Chelsea left-back Wiley are ongoing and have a “very strong chance” of completion soon.

Both players spent the second half of the 2024-25 season with Hertfordshire, with 21-year-old Abankwah being called up to the Republic of Ireland national team for the first time following his strong performances at club level.

Abankwah appeared 19 times for Watford in the Championship, and while he was sent off against Oxford United, he generally impressed at the heart of Cleverley’s defensive unit. If the deal is completed, it will mark another transfer between two Pozzo-owned clubs, as has happened numerous times since 2012.

Wiley, meanwhile, is expected to sign a second loan deal at Vicarage Road after playing 10 games for Watford last season.

The 20-year-old, who has three caps for the United States, had a delayed debut in the Championship due to a shoulder injury, but he has started Watford’s last eight league games, including an assist in a 1-0 win over Hull City.

 

Despite the double transfer news, Watford FC fans have reason to be optimistic.

The recent appointment of Pezzolano appears to have injected new urgency into the powers-that-be at Watford, who are attempting to build a squad capable of competing for at least the Championship play-off spots next season.

Watford were quick to point out that Pezzolano had won promotions in multiple countries, which is what his new goal will be as well, and the return of Abankwah and Wiley to the squad is certainly a promising sign.

Getting transfer business done early on is a good thing, and it may give them a leg up on many of their rivals for the upcoming season, especially if they are young players who will need time to develop to reach their peak form, with the expected permanent arrival of Abankwah being a major coup given his potential.

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