Watford captain Troy Deeney has signed a new five-year contract after interest from Premier League champions Leicester City.
Deeney has signed a long-term deal at Vicarage Road after a debut Premier League season in which he scored 13 goals, guiding Watford to 14th position in the top flight and an FA Cup semi-final.
Leicester had considered Deeney a potential replacement for Jamie Vardy if he moved to Arsenal, but Watford were determined to stave off any interest in the 27-year-old, who has been at the club since 2010.
Speaking after Watford confirmed the new terms for their captain, Deeney offered a suggestion that he had considered moving on, but that talks with the Vicarage Road hierarchy convinced him to stay.
“This club really means business and I want to be part of this,” Deeney said. “I’ve listened carefully to everything the club has had to say to me recently.
“We’ve talked things through in a sensible way – and it’s helped me fully deal with lots of my own thoughts.
“When you’re right in the middle of something, maybe you take it for granted how quickly things are moving forward. I don’t think I’ve done that; but by talking it over it’s clear that Watford isn’t ever going to settle for second-best – and that’s how I want to feel about my career so it works for me.”
Watford CEO Scott Duxbury also did not hide away from the fact that there was some “debate” over his captain’s future, and added: “Making big decisions is part of the accountability that comes with running a football club, and I’m aware of that.
“But for a player it’s perhaps even more crucial, because it’s about defining the future for you and your family, both professionally and personally.
“I have total respect for the time and diligence Troy has shown in coming to the conclusion he has.”
Earlier today Watford confirmed their first signing of the summer transfer window, bringing in Genk centre-back Christian Kabasele on a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
