Travis: The man who could be worth a packet
29.07.26, 17:48 Updated 04.08.26, 22:37 5 Minute Read
Mike Walters
Downgrading the academy to Category Three, and withdrawing the Under-21 side from the Professional Development League, are not - at face value - going to open a delta of new pathways to the first team.
When two of your best teenage prospects are poached by Premier League clubs, the conveyor belt looks more thinly-populated.
Highly-rated right-back Max Lyall-Rajendra, 16, made the switch to AFC Bournemouth’s academy after spending 10 years at Watford, making his FA Youth Cup debut for the Hornets at 15.
And midfielder Keyarn James, 14, moved to Tottenham’s Category One academy, with Watford negotiating a £285,000 payout - more than the standard mandated fee - for his transfer.
Become a member today.
The Watford Word needs its community to support independent, high-quality coverage of Watford. Subscribe to a monthly or annual package today to be a part of something special.
Already have an account? Sign in
Related Topics
Mike Walters spent 40 years on Fleet Street as a top sports writer and a regular in the Press box at Vicarage Road. His first game as a wide-eyed Watford fan was a 5-0 FA Cup win against Reading 55 years ago and, coupled with his national newspaper experience, few supporters are better-equipped to cover English football's original family club.