Watford FC have today completed the signing of Dutch International right back Daryl Janmaat.
Done deal
The 27-year-old comes to Vicarage Road from Championship side Newcastle United for a fee of £7.5million. The player has agreed a four-year contract with the Premier League club, which is set to see him stay in Hertfordshire until the summer of 2020.
A busy week of business
Janmaat becomes Walter Mazzarri’s third signing of the week following the arrivals of central defender Younis Kaboul from Sunderland and midfielder Roberto Pereyra from Juventus.
Janmaat joined Newcastle two years ago from Feyenoord and made 77 appearances for the Magpies.
The defender has played twice this season for Newcastle with his last appearance coming in the home defeat to Huddersfield Town.
Rafa's side of the deal
On Newcastle’s part they have agreed to allow Janmaat to move on to Vicarage Road because they feel the price is right. Rafael Benitez has already identified Tottenham full-back DeAndre Yedlin as a potential replacement on a season-long loan deal.
This will add to the signings of Grant Hanley, Ciaran Clark and Jesus Gamez that Benitez has also brought in to strengthen the Magpies' defence.
Hornets head coach Mazzarri will be delighted with the signing of Janmaat because he is very comfortable with slotting in at right wing-back, in the Italian head coach's preferred 3-5-2 system.
Doubt cast over fellow full backs
The arrival of Janmaat raises inevtable questions about the future role at Watford of fellow new recruit Brice Dja Djédjé. The right-back, who arrived from Marseille earlier in the transfer window for £3million is yet to make his debut for the club due to a long-standing foot injury.
This also throws a question of doubt over the long term future of Juan Carlos Paredes who has been short of action and was less than convincing in last night’s humiliating 2-1 League Cup defeat defeat to Gillingham.