Serie A side AS Roma have announced on their official website that left-back José Holebas will be joining Premier League newboys Watford, in a deal that could reach €3m.
Holebas joins the Hornets after just one year in the Italian capital, having joined the Giallorossi from Greek champions Olympiakos last summer.
The 31-year-old, who despite being born in the Bavarian region of Germany has played for Greece 27 times, becomes the fourth signing of the summer for Watford; joining Giedrius Arlauskis, Sebastian Prödl and Matej Vydra.
On their official website, Roma have said that Holebas will join for an intial fee of €2.5m, but if Watford ‘achieve certain performance-related targets’ will pay an extra €500,000 - coming to a final figure of €3m.
Holebas initially started his career as a striker, scoring 15 goals in 33 games with German sixth-tier side Viktoria Kahl with his impressive season catching the eye of 2. Bundesliga team, 1860 Munich.
During his three years at 1860, Holebas went from being an out and out striker to a left winger, and eventually a more attacking left back. His coach at 1860, Ewald Lienen, joined Greek giants Olympiakos, and took Holebas with him.
During his four years at Olympiakos, the left back not only won the Greek Superleague four consecutive times and played both UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League football, but Holebas also won his first caps for Greece.
After playing in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Holebas moved on from Olympiakos, where he had scored nine goals in 94 league appearances, to Serie A with AS Roma. The club finished second behind champions Juventus, with Holebas playing 24 games for the Giallorossi.
Holebas will most likely play as a back-up to Watford’s Mexican star Miguel Layun, but he can also play as a more defensive left-winger as well as at left back.