2021–22 Watford F.C. season explained

Club:	Watford
Season:	2021–22
Chairman:	Scott Duxbury
Mgrtitle:	Head coach
Manager:	Xisco (until 3 October) Claudio Ranieri (from 4 October to 24 January)^[1] Roy Hodgson (from 25 January)^[2]
Stadium:	Vicarage Road
League:	Premier League
League Result:	19th (relegated)
Cup1:	FA Cup
Cup1 Result:	Third round
Cup2:	EFL Cup
Cup2 Result:	Third round
League Topscorer:	Emmanuel Dennis (10)
Season Topscorer:	Emmanuel Dennis (10)
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Prevseason:	2020–21
Nextseason:	2022–23

The 2021–22 season was the 123rd season in existence of Watford Football Club and their first season back in the Premier League following their immediate return with promotion from the Championship in the previous season. Watford also competed in the FA Cup and EFL Cup.

This season was for the first time since 2009–10 without former club's goalscorer Troy Deeney who joined Birmingham City after his contract expired.

Managerial changes

On 3 October, the Hornets sacked head coach Xisco.^[3] A day later, Claudio Ranieri was appointed the club's new Head Coach, on a two-year contract.^[4]

Ranieri was sacked on 24 January and was replaced the following day by Roy Hodgson. Watford would go on to record 2 wins and remain winless in Hodgson’s tenure and be relegated in May 2022 following a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.

Players

Current squad

As of 22 May 2022.

Squad No.	Name	Nationality	Position	Age	Since	Ends	Signed from	Apps	Goals
Goalkeepers
1	Ben Foster		GK	39	2018	2022	West Brom	207	0
26	Daniel Bachmann		GK	28	2017	2024	Stoke	41	0
35	Rob Elliot		GK	36	2021	2023	Newcastle	1	0
Defenders
2	Jeremy Ngakia		RB	21	2020	2024	West Ham	45	0
3	Danny Rose		LB	32	2021	2023	Tottenham	16	0
5	William Troost-Ekong		CB	28	2020	2025	Udinese	51	1
11	Adam Masina		LB	28	2018	2023	Bologna	90	3
13	Nicolas Nkoulou		CB	32	2021	2022	Torino	3	0
14	Hassane Kamara		LB	28	2022	2025	Nice	19	1
15	Craig Cathcart		CB	33	2014	2023	Blackpool	221	8
21	Kiko Femenía		RB	31	2017	2024	Alavés	151	2
22	Samir		CB	27	2022	2025	Udinese	19	0
27	Christian Kabasele		CB	31	2016	2024	Genk	139	6
31	Francisco Sierralta		CB	25	2020	2027	Udinese	37	1
42	James Morris		LB	20	2021	2024	Southampton	1	0
Midfielders
4	Oghenekaro Etebo		CM	26	2021	2022	Stoke (loan)	9	0
6	Imrân Louza		CM	23	2021	2026	Nantes	22	0
8	Tom Cleverley		CM	33	2017	2023	Everton	177	18
16	Dan Gosling		CM	32	2021	2023	Bournemouth	19	3
19	Moussa Sissoko		CDM	33	2021	2023	Tottenham	38	2
33	Juraj Kucka		CM	35	2021	2023	Parma	27	1
39	Edo Kayembe		CDM	24	2022	2026	Eupen	13	0
45	Kamil Conteh		CM	19	2018	2022	Academy	1	0
Forwards
7	Joshua King		ST	30	2021	2023	Everton	33	5
10	João Pedro		ST	20	2020	2027	Fluminense	74	13
12	Ken Sema		LW	28	2018	2026	Östersunds	85	7
23	Ismaïla Sarr		RW	24	2019	2024	Rennes	92	24
25	Emmanuel Dennis		ST	24	2021	2026	Club Brugge	35	10
28	Samuel Kalu		RW	24	2022	2025	Bordeaux	4	0
29	Cucho Hernández		LW	23	2017	2024	Granada	28	5
34	Kwadwo Baah		LW	19	2021	2026	Rochdale	0	0
47	Shaq Forde		ST	18	2012	2022	Academy	1	0

Transfers

Transfers in

Date	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
17 May 2021					Undisclosed	^[5]
27 May 2021					Undisclosed	^[6]
2 June 2021					Undisclosed	^[7]
21 June 2021					Undisclosed	^[8]
1 July 2021					Free transfer	^[9]
1 July 2021					Free transfer	^[10]
9 July 2021					Free transfer	^[11]
9 July 2021					Undisclosed	^[12]
14 July 2021			Vincent Angelini		Free transfer	^[13]
5 August 2021					Free transfer	^[14]
6 August 2021					Undisclosed	^[15]
27 August 2021					£3,000,000	^[16]
23 September 2021			Jimiel Chikukwa		Free transfer	^[17]
7 October 2021					Free transfer	^[18]
1 January 2022					Undisclosed	^[19]
4 January 2022					£4,000,000	^[20]
6 January 2022					Undisclosed	^[21]
7 January 2022	DM		Edo Kayembe	KAS Eupen	Undisclosed	^[22]
26 January 2022					Undisclosed	^[23]

Transfers out

Date	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
9 June 2021					£2,000,000	^[24]
24 June 2021	CB		Ben Wilmot	Stoke City	Undisclosed	^[25]
30 June 2021				Unattached	Released
30 June 2021			Mitchel Bergkamp	Unattached	Released
30 June 2021			Mac Chisholm		Released (scholar)
30 June 2021					Released	^[26]
30 June 2021			Harry Forster		Released	^[27]
30 June 2021			Thomas Horsewood		Released (scholar)	^[28]
30 June 2021					Released	^[29] ^[30]
30 June 2021					Released
30 June 2021			Phoenix Patterson		Released
30 June 2021			Teddy Perkins		Released	^[31]
30 June 2021					Released
30 June 2021				Unattached	Released
30 June 2021					Released
30 June 2021			Maxwell Statham		Released
30 June 2021					Released	^[32]
30 June 2021			Max Thompson	Unattached	Released (scholar)
14 July 2021			James Debayo		Undisclosed	^[33]
16 July 2021					Undisclosed	^[34]
16 July 2021					Undisclosed	^[35]
9 August 2021					Free transfer	^[36]
14 August 2021					Undisclosed	^[37]
26 August 2021					Undisclosed	^[38]
28 August 2021					Undisclosed	^[39]
30 August 2021					Free transfer	^[40]
31 August 2021					Undisclosed	^[41]
31 August 2021				Unattached	Released

Loans in

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Date until	Ref.
9 July 2021					End of season	^[42]
19 August 2021					2 February 2022	^[43]

Loans out

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Date until	Ref.
1 July 2021					End of season	^[44]
1 July 2021					End of season	^[45]
9 July 2021					End of season	^[46]
12 July 2021					End of season	^[47]
19 July 2021			Tiago Çukur		11 January 2022	^[48]
20 July 2021			Myles Roberts		End of season	^[49]
23 July 2021			Adam Parkes		End of season	^[50]
23 July 2021					End of season	^[51]
30 July 2021			Alfie Marriott		January 2022	^[52]
4 August 2021			Dante Baptiste		End of season	^[53]
4 August 2021					End of season	^[54]
6 August 2021					14 January 2022	^[55]
7 August 2021					End of season	^[56]
12 August 2021					End of season	^[57]
12 August 2021			Dominic Hutchinson		End of season	^[58]
13 August 2021					End of season	^[59] ^[60]
17 August 2021					End of season	^[61]
30 August 2021					End of season	^[62]
31 August 2021					End of season
31 August 2021					End of season	^[63]
31 August 2021					1 February 2022
2 October 2021			Will Hall		Undisclosed	^[64] ^[65]
18 December 2021			Adian Manning		Undisclosed	^[66]
1 January 2022					End of season
14 January 2022					End of season	^[67]
22 January 2022			JJ McKiernan		13 November 2022	^[68]
23 January 2022					End of season	^[69]
1 February 2022					End of season	^[70]
5 February 2022					End of season	^[71]
28 February 2022					End of season	^[72]
1 March 2022			Adian Manning		26 March 2022	^[73]

Pre-season and friendlies

Watford announced they would play friendlies against West Bromwich Albion,^[74] Stevenage^[74] Nantes,^[74] and Udinese^[74] as part of their pre-season schedule.

Competitions

Premier League

See main article: 2021–22 Premier League.

Matches

The league fixtures were announced on 16 June 2021.^[75]

FA Cup

See main article: 2021–22 FA Cup.

Watford were drawn away to Leicester City in the third round.^[76]

EFL Cup

See main article: 2021–22 EFL Cup.

Watford entered the competition in the second round and were drawn at home to Crystal Palace^{[77] [78]} and Stoke City in the third round.^{[79] [80]}

Statistics

Appearances

No.	Pos.	Player	Premier League		FA Cup		EFL Cup		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Goalkeepers
1	GK	Ben Foster	26	0	0	0	1	0	27	0
26	GK	Daniel Bachmann	12	0	1	0	0	0	13	0
35	GK	Rob Elliot	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
Defenders
2	DF	Jeremy Ngakia	9+7	0	1	0	2	0	12+7	0
3	DF	Danny Rose	7+1	0	0	0	1	0	8+1	0
5	DF	William Troost-Ekong	15+2	0	0	0	1	0	16+2	0
11	DF	Adam Masina	13+2	0	0	0	1	0	14+2	0
13	DF	Nicolas Nkoulou	2+1	0	0	0	0	0	2+1	0
14	DF	Hassane Kamara	18+1	1	0	0	0	0	18+1	1
15	DF	Craig Cathcart	27+4	0	1	0	0	0	28+4	0
21	DF	Kiko Femenía	26+1	0	0	0	0+1	0	26+2	0
22	DF	Samir	19	0	0	0	0	0	19	0
27	DF	Christian Kabasele	12+4	0	0	0	1	0	13+4	0
31	DF	Francisco Sierralta	5	0	1	0	2	0	8	0
42	DF	James Morris	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
Midfielders
4	MF	Peter Etebo	4+5	0	0	0	1	0	5+5	0
6	MF	Imran Louza	17+3	0	0	0	2	0	19+3	0
8	MF	Tom Cleverley	20+8	0	1	0	0+1	0	21+9	0
12	MF	Ken Sema	7+11	0	0+1	0	2	0	9+12	0
16	MF	Dan Gosling	2+2	1	0+1	0	1	0	3+3	1
18	MF	Ozan Tufan	4+3	0	1	0	1	0	6+3	0
19	MF	Moussa Sissoko	36	2	1	0	0+1	0	37+1	2
33	MF	Juraj Kucka	22+4	1	0+1	0	0	0	22+5	1
39	MF	Edo Kayembe	9+4	0	0	0	0	0	9+4	0
45	MF	Kamil Conteh	0	0	0+1	0	0	0	0+1	0
Forwards
7	FW	Joshua King	27+5	5	0	0	1	0	28+5	5
10	FW	João Pedro	15+13	3	1	1	0	0	16+13	4
17	FW	Ashley Fletcher	0+3	0	1	0	2	2	3+3	2
23	FW	Ismaïla Sarr	21+1	5	0	0	0	0	21+1	5
25	FW	Emmanuel Dennis	30+3	10	0	0	0+2	0	30+5	10
28	FW	Samuel Kalu	2+2	0	0	0	0	0	2+2	0
29	FW	Cucho Hernández	12+13	5	1	0	2	0	15+13	5
47	FW	Shaq Forde	0	0	0+1	0	0	0	0+1	0

Goalscorers

The list is sorted by shirt number when total goals are equal.

width=50		width=50		width=50		width=180	Player	width=100	Premier League	width=80	FA Cup	width=80	EFL Cup	width=80	Total
1	FW	25	align=left		10	0	0	10
2	FW	7	align=left		5	0	0	5
	FW	23	align=left		5	0	0	5
	FW	29	align=left		5	0	0	5
5	FW	10	align=left		3	1	0	4
6	FW	17	align=left		0	0	2	2
	MF	19	align=left		2	0	0	2
8	DF	14	align=left		1	0	0	1
	MF	16	align=left		1	0	0	1
	MF	33	align=left		1	0	0	1
	Own goals			1	0	0	1
TOTALS				34	1	2	37

Clean sheets

The list is sorted by shirt number when total clean sheets are equal.

width=50		width=50		width=180	Player	width=100	Premier League	width=80	FA Cup	width=80	EFL Cup	width=80	Total
1	1		4	0	1	5
TOTALS			4	0	1	5

See also

• 2021–22 in English football
• List of Watford F.C. seasons

Notes and References

1. Web site: Claudio Ranieri sacked by Watford . Joe . 24 January 2022.
2. Web site: Watford appoint Hodgson as manager until end of season . Sky Sports . 26 January 2022.
3. News: Club Statement: Xisco Munoz . 4 October 2021 . Watford Football Club . 3 October 2021.
4. News: Ranieri Appointed Head Coach . 6 October 2021 . Watford Football Club . 4 October 2021.
5. Web site: Baah Joins Hornets . Watford F.C. . 17 May 2021.
6. Web site: Watford Sign Pollock . Watford F.C. . 27 May 2021.
7. Web site: Hornets Sign Louza . Watford F.C. . 2 June 2021.
8. Web site: Official: Dennis Deal Done. Watford F.C. . 21 June 2021.
9. Web site: Official: Ashley Fletcher Signs . Watford F.C. . 11 June 2021.
10. Web site: Rose Returns To Watford . Watford F.C. . 16 June 2021.
11. Web site: Official: Watford Sign King . Watford F.C. . 9 July 2021.
12. Web site: Official: Mebude Signs For Golden Boys . Watford F.C. . 9 July 2021.
13. Web site: Watford Sign Angelini . Watford F.C. . 14 July 2021.
14. Web site: O'Brien & Morris Join Watford . Watford F.C. . 5 August 2021.
15. Web site: Kucka Signs . Watford F.C. . 8 August 2021.
16. Web site: Moussa Sissoko: Watford sign midfielder from Tottenham for around £3m . BBC Sport . 27 August 2021 . 27 August 2021.
17. News: Watford Sign Chikukwa . 24 September 2021 . Watford Football Club . 23 September 2021.
18. News: Watford Sign Nkoulou . 8 October 2021 . Watford Football Club . 7 October 2021.
19. News: Watford to sign Okoye from Sparta Rotterdam . 17 November 2021 . BBC . 8 November 2021.
20. Web site: Watford Sign Kamara . Watford Football Club . 4 January 2022.
21. Web site: Samir Joins Hornets . Watford Football Club . 6 January 2022.
22. Web site: Official: Kayembe Signs On. 2022-01-07. www.watfordfc.com. en.
23. Web site: Watford sign Nigeria winger Kalu from Bordeaux . BBC . 26 January 2022.
24. Web site: West Ham complete permanent signing of Craig Dawson from Watford after impressive loan spell helps propel Hammers into Champions League contention . talkSPORT . 7 April 2021.
25. Web site: Official: Wilmot Departs. 2021-06-24. www.watfordfc.com. en.
26. Web site: Sam Dalby Signs For Southend United . Southend United F.C. . 28 July 2021.
27. Web site: Forster returns! . Bromley F.C. . 6 August 2021 . 16 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220316230308/https://www.bromleyfc.tv/site/forster-returns/ . dead .
28. HertfordTownFC . 1456976562323173377 . Welcome to new signing Thomas Horsewood, a striker who signs from Watford and goes straight in to today's squad. . 6 November 2021 . 21 January 2022.
29. Web site: Retain & Release List Confirmed . Watford F.C. - Official Site . 18 May 2021.
30. Web site: ACHRAF LAZAAR PRESENTATION . Portimonense S.C. . 2 September 2021.
31. Web site: PLAYER MOVEMENTS . wellingunited.com . 30 September 2021 . 31 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220531133523/https://www.wellingunited.com/player-movements/ . dead .
32. Web site: Stevenson bolsters back line . Bromley F.C. . 4 August 2021 . 31 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220531004823/https://www.bromleyfc.tv/site/stevenson-bolsters-back-line/ . dead .
33. Web site: Youngster Signs Contract At Leeds, After Snubbing Man United . HITC . 13 August 2021.
34. Web site: Man City Sign Rising Left-Back Starlet - Player Rejected Liverpool, Chelsea And Arsenal . Si . 13 August 2021.
35. Web site: Celtic confirm Bosun Lawal signing from Watford as they beat Chelsea and Norwich to youngster . Glasgow Times . 13 August 2021.
36. Web site: #Watford transfer outgoing - Filip Stuparevic . The Athletic . 13 August 2021.
37. Web site: #Perica Departs . Watford F.C. . 15 August 2021.
38. Web site: Udinese Switch For Success . Watford F.C. . 26 August 2021.
39. Web site: Hughes Departs . Watford F.C. . 29 August 2021.
40. Web site: Troy Deeney Comes Home! . Birmingham City F.C. . 31 August 2021 . 24 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211024225150/https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2021/troy-deeney-comes-home/ . dead .
41. Web site: Chalobah Departs & Quina Loaned Out . Watford F.C. . 1 September 2021.
42. Web site: Etebo Joins Hornets . Watford F.C. . 1 July 2021.
43. Web site: Watford Sign Ozan Tufan . Watford F.C. . 19 August 2021.
44. Web site: Pussetto Extends Udinese Loan . Watford F.C. . 1 July 2021.
45. Web site: América de Cali confirms the signing of Jorge Segura . Today.in-24 . 13 August 2021.
46. Web site: Juergen Elitim, nuevo jugador del Dépor 2021-2022 . Deportivo de La Coruna . 13 August 2021 . Spanish.
47. Web site: Peñaranda Loan Move To Spain . Watford F.C. . 12 July 2021.
48. Web site: Cukur Departs On Loan . Watford F.C. . 19 July 2021.
49. Web site: Loan Move For Roberts . Watford F.C. . 21 July 2021.
50. Web site: Loan Move For Parkes . Watford F.C. . 23 July 2021.
51. Web site: Gillingham Loan For Phillips . Watford F.C. . 23 July 2021.
52. Web site: Kings Langley Loan For Marriott . Watford F.C. . 31 July 2021 . 31 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210731194639/https://www.watfordfc.com/index.php/news/official-kings-langley-loan-for-marriottt . dead .
53. Web site: Pro Deal & Loan For Baptiste . Watford F.C. . 4 August 2021.
54. Web site: Mebude Loaned to Wimbledon . Watford F.C. . 4 August 2021.
55. Web site: Doncaster Loan For Dahlberg . Watford F.C. . 6 August 2021.
56. Web site: Zinckernagel Departs On Loan . Watford F.C. . 8 August 2021.
57. Web site: Dele-Bashiru Joins Royals . Watford F.C. . 13 August 2021.
58. Web site: Hutchinson Joins Eastbourne . Watford F.C. . 13 August 2021.
59. Web site: Yeovil Loan For Lo-Everton . Watford F.C. . 13 August 2021.
60. Web site: Official: Yeovil Loan Extended For Lo-Everton . Watford F.C. . 21 January 2022 . 21 January 2022.
61. Web site: Hungbo Leaves On Loan . Watford F.C. . 17 August 2021.
62. Web site: Pollock Leaves On Loan . Watford F.C. . 30 August 2021.
63. Web site: QPR Loan For Gray . Watford F.C. . 31 August 2021.
64. Web site: Hall On Kings Langley Loan: "I've Loved Every Second Of It" . Watford F.C. . 20 December 2021 . 4 January 2022.
65. Web site: Will Hall . Kings Langley F.C. . 4 January 2022 . 4 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220104200750/https://www.kingslangleyfc.co.uk/teams/210710/player/will-hall-2795670 . dead .
66. Web site: Adian Manning . Kings Langley F.C. . 4 January 2022 . 4 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220104200755/https://www.kingslangleyfc.co.uk/teams/210710/player/adian-manning-2823751 . dead .
67. Web site: Gills sign Pontus Dahlberg on loan . Gillingham FC . 14 January 2022.
68. Web site: Official: McKiernan Moves To Bohemian . Watford FC . 23 January 2022.
69. Web site: Bohemians sign Ireland under-21 striker Ryan Cassidy on loan from Watford . Dublin Live . 24 January 2022.
70. Web site: Quina's Barnsley switch confirmed . Watford Observer . 1 February 2022.
71. Web site: Conteh Makes Loan Switch . Watford FC . 10 February 2022.
72. Web site: Fletcher Joins New York Red Bulls On Loan . Watford FC . 2 March 2022.
73. Web site: Manning Loaned To Biggleswade Town . Watford FC . 2 March 2022.
74. Web site: First-Team Fixtures Confirmed . Watford F.C. . 2 June 2021.
75. News: Fixtures 2021/22: Aston Villa First At The Vic! . Watford F.C. . 16 June 2021.
76. News: Third round Draw . 6 December 2021 . The Football Association . 9 December 2021.
77. News: Carabao Cup Round Two draw confirmed . EFL . 12 August 2021.
78. News: Crystal Palace Date Confirmed . Watford F.C. . 16 August 2021.
79. News: Carabao Cup Round Three draw confirmed . EFL . 26 August 2021.
80. News: Stoke City Date & Ticket Info Confirmed . Watford F.C. . 1 September 2021 . 1 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210901182213/https://www.watfordfc.com/index.php/news/carabao-cup-stoke-city-date-ticket-info-confirmed . dead .