Michail Antonio Returns to English Football, Signs One-Year Deal With Watford

Michail Antonio has completed a return to English football, signing a one-year deal with Championship side Watford, nearly two years after the near-fatal car crash that ended his decade-long West Ham career.

The 36-year-old Jamaica international broke his femur in four places when his car hit a tree in Epping Forest in December 2024, an accident that left him hospitalised for three weeks. He had been training with Watford's squad for a month before the move was confirmed, and could make his debut against Stoke City this weekend pending international clearance, though the club expects he is still around a month away from being able to meaningfully contribute.

"Watford is a big club and hopefully I can come in and bring success and help wherever I can," Antonio said. "I've scored a few goals against Watford, so hopefully I can score some for Watford now when I'm fully up to speed." He leaves West Ham as their record Premier League goalscorer with 68 league goals in a decade at the club, having also won the Europa Conference League in 2023. Antonio had previously played briefly for Qatari side Al-Sailiya following his release from West Ham, and had been close to moves to Leicester City and Brentford before completing his switch to Vicarage Road.