Watford FC struck transfer gold with £11.5m transfer - He's a Vicarage Road hero | OneFootball

Gerard Deulofeu was a gem of a signing for Watford.

For Watford FC, signing a player from FC Barcelona would once have seemed a distant dream – but in 2018, that dream became reality when the Hornets secured the services of Gerard Deulofeu.

The silky attacker was a player who joined La Masia in 2003 - aged just nine. He developed and worked his way through the age groups, but despite becoming something of a force for Barcelona B, he wasn't deemed good enough for the first team and made his first move away from the club in 2013 as he signed for Everton.

The Toffees bought him two years later, parting with a reported fee of £4.2 million for his permanent signature. His time at Goodison Park was inconsistent and after a spell on the sidelines under Ronald Koeman and a loan away at AC Milan, the Catalan giants utilised their buy-back clause in 2017.

His return to the Nou Camp didn’t yield much greater success, and it was then that Watford came calling, keen to bring the Spaniard to Vicarage Road. He duly joined Watford on loan in January 2018, and a successful six-month spell was enough to persuade fellow countryman and manager Javi Gracia to make the move permanent.

Gerard Deulofeu shines at Vicarage Road

Parting ways with £11.5 million for the then-24-year-old, Deulofeu's first full season at Watford was a real success as he tormented Premier League defences alongside Troy Deeney.

Across his 30 Premier League games in 2018-19, the attacker assisted five and netted 10 - including a delightful hat-trick against Cardiff City. This helped the Hornets to an 11th-placed finish, but it was the magic of the FA Cup that truly had Deulofeu shining that season.

In their run to the final against Manchester City, the Spaniard netted two goals in his three appearances - both coming in the semi-final against Wolves. With the Hornets 2-0 down and seemingly out, the Spaniard was brought on from the bench to spark a comeback – and he did just that. His first goal was a moment of pure brilliance, delicately curling the ball into the top corner to give Watford hope. After Troy Deeney dramatically levelled from the penalty spot in stoppage time, it was Deulofeu again who stepped up in extra-time, calmly slotting the winner into the far corner to send Watford to the FA Cup Final.

Undoubtedly, this stands as the defining moment of his career, but it shouldn't overshadow what was a thoroughly commendable spell at Watford.

Following the 2018/19 season, he wasn’t quite as prolific. The following campaign saw him register just four goals and five assists, before a cruel knee injury brought his time at Vicarage Road to a premature end in early 2020.

Gerard Deulofeu's Watford legacy

Having admirably recovered from his injury, the lure of a new chapter with Udinese proved too strong for Watford and Deulofeu made his loan move to the Italian club permanent in January 2021.

Unsurprisingly, his eye for goal continued at I Bianconeri, but another knee injury – sustained in 2022 – has plagued him ever since. Having not made a single appearance in two seasons, he departed the club in January 2025, and now fears that the injury may have brought his career to a premature end.

n truth, it’s a real shame to see his career fade into obscurity, though there remains hope that, with recovery, he might one day make a return.

For Watford supporters, his two years at Vicarage Road were truly memorable. Deulofeu had magic in his boots – and while he was never the finished article, he embodied the very essence of why fans pay to watch football: for moments of brilliance like his brace in the FA Cup semi-final.