Watford FC has announced the signing of midfielder Hector Kyprianou on a five-year deal, following the expiry of his contract with Peterborough United, reports the BBC.
The 23-year-old Cyprus international joins Watford on a free transfer and is the club’s first signing since the appointment of Uruguayan Paulo Pezzolano as head coach. According to the BBC, Kyprianou made 140 appearances for Peterborough, scoring 16 goals, including the second in their 2-0 EFL Vertu Trophy final win over Birmingham City at Wembley in April.
In an interview with the BBC, Kyprianou expressed his excitement about joining Watford, stating, “It’s a historic club, a massive club that matches my ambitions, which is to play as high as possible and to reach the Premier League.” He also revealed that one of the reasons he joined Watford was due to the club’s prolonged interest in him, adding, “To know that they wanted me is a huge positive. Paulo sent me a message to say ‘welcome’ and we’re looking forward to working with each other.”
Kyprianou’s football career began in Tottenham Hotspur’s youth set-up before making the short move to join Leyton Orient in 2019. He made his English Football League debut in December of that year and played 79 games for Orient before being sold to Peterborough for an undisclosed fee three years ago. The midfielder has also represented Cyprus at senior international level, winning 10 caps since his debut against Norway in 2023.
Watford sporting director Gian Luca Nani praised Kyprianou’s signing, stating, “Once the season ended, we asked Peterborough for permission to speak to Hector and we thank them for their cooperation in agreeing to this.” Nani also highlighted Kyprianou’s qualities, saying, “Hector fits the demands Paulo has for his players – intensity and a high technical and tactical awareness.”
The deal, which will be completed on 1 June, marks a significant addition to Watford’s squad as they look to improve their performance in the Championship. The club finished 14th in the league this season, which led to the sacking of former head coach Tom Cleverley. With Kyprianou on board, Watford will be hoping to make a push for promotion under the guidance of Pezzolano. As the BBC reports, Kyprianou’s signing is a statement of intent from Watford, and fans will be eager to see the midfielder in action for the Hornets next season.
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