Michail Antonio joins Championship club Watford as free agent

Former West Ham United striker Michail Antonio has joined Watford on a free transfer.

The 36-year-old had been a free agent after leaving Al Sailiya earlier this year. Antonio appeared just four times for the Qatari club.

Antonio has signed a one-year contract at Vicarage Road and could be in the squad for Saturday’s game against Stoke City, pending international clearance.

“It’s a good set of boys here,” Antonio said after the move was announced. “They are focused and ready to show their abilities this season.

“Watford is a big club and hopefully I can come in and bring success and help wherever I can.

“I’ve scored a few goals against Watford! So hopefully I can score some for Watford now when I’m fully up to speed.”

We are pleased to announce Michail Antonio has joined the club on a permanent deal ✍️🤩

Welcome, Michail!

🔗 pic.twitter.com/KvXzkB0zdT

— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) September 11, 2026

Watford have already faced West Ham this season, drawing 1-1 with the east London club on August 29, meaning that Antonio will have to wait until April for the chance to face his former side in the league.

Antonio spent 10 years at West Ham after joining in September 2015, recording 83 goals and 43 assists in 323 appearances.

In December 2024, he was involved in a single-vehicle collision when his car struck a tree in Epping Forest, spending three weeks at a central London hospital and undergoing surgery on a lower limb fracture.

“I didn’t want to be seen,” Antonio said about the crash in March 2025. “I almost died and it made me embarrassed that it was that bad. I went to see the car three weeks ago and it gave me a weird feeling in my stomach. It was difficult to see.”

After the expiration of his West Ham contract in June 2025, Antonio was not offered a new deal and was without a club before signing for Al Sailiya in March.

Watford are 12th in the Championship on eight points from their first six games.