Watford have announced the signing of striker Michail Antonio on a free transfer, with the 36-year-old putting pen to paper on a one-year deal at Vicarage Road. The Jamaican international becomes the club's 12th arrival of the summer window, according to BBC Sport.

A long road back to competitive football

Antonio's journey to Hertfordshire has been anything but straightforward. His final senior appearance for West Ham came in a 3-1 defeat by Leicester City on 3 December 2024, and just four days later he suffered a broken leg in a car crash that left his immediate future deeply uncertain.

After being released by the Hammers in June 2025 following a decade at the club, Antonio worked his way back to fitness at his former employers, featuring twice for the under-21 side in Premier League 2 as part of his rehabilitation. He subsequently trained with Leicester City before a move to Brentford appeared imminent, only for a torn calf muscle sustained the day before he was due to sign to scupper that deal entirely.

Antonio then had a brief spell in Qatar with Al-Sailiya, making four appearances before his contract concluded. He had been training with Watford under head coach Alessio Dionisi for the past month, and the Hornets have now moved to formalise the arrangement.

Antonio's words and what he brings to the Hornets

"Watford is a big club and hopefully I can come in and bring success and help wherever I can," Antonio told the club's official website.

The striker, who will wear the number 18 shirt, arrives with considerable experience of the second tier. Prior to his move to West Ham in September 2015, Antonio turned out for several Championship clubs including Reading, Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest, giving him a familiarity with the demands of the division that may prove valuable.

At 36, questions will naturally arise about whether he can rediscover his best form after such a prolonged and difficult layoff. The torn calf, on top of the broken leg, means Antonio has had precious little competitive football in the best part of a year. Watford, understood to have had the opportunity to assess him in training over several weeks, will have made their judgement with that context firmly in mind.

Where Watford stand and what Antonio offers

The Hornets currently sit 12th in the Championship table after six matches, having won two, drawn two and lost two under Dionisi. It is a modest but not alarming start, and the addition of an experienced centre-forward provides the manager with another option in attack.

The signing is pending international clearance, with Watford hoping Antonio will be available for Saturday's home fixture against Stoke City. Whether he is match-ready from the off remains to be seen; Dionisi is likely to ease him in carefully given the injury history, and the one-year structure of the deal suggests the club are managing risk sensibly while backing the player to contribute.

For Antonio, this represents a chance to prove that the setbacks of the past year have not ended his career at the top level of English football. He remains a recognisable and powerful presence in the game, and if he can stay fit, Watford supporters will hope that his Championship pedigree and physical attributes provide genuine value in the promotion push ahead.

Frequently asked

Has Michail Antonio signed for Watford?
Yes. Watford confirmed on 11 September 2026 that Antonio has joined on a one-year deal as a free agent, pending international clearance.
Why did Michail Antonio leave West Ham?
Antonio was released by West Ham in June 2025 after a ten-year spell at the club. His time there effectively ended when he suffered a broken leg in a car crash in December 2024.
Will Michail Antonio be available for Watford's next match?
The deal is pending international clearance, and Watford are hoping that will come through in time for their Championship home fixture against Stoke City on Saturday.