Jamal Lewis signs for Watford on loan from Newcastle

Watford have completed the signing of Newcastle United defender Jamal Lewis on a season-long loan with the option to buy him permanently. 

The 25-year-old comes into the squad and is the only left-back on Watford’s roster. He hopes to use that opportunity to gain significant playing time and re-establish himself after somewhat stalling at Tyneside.

Lewis had started his career at Luton Town before joining Norwich City’s academy. He broke out through Norwich’s senior team, debuting in 2017.

He was crucial in Norwich’s 2018/19 promotion-winning efforts and made the Championship Team of the Year at the end of the season.

After climbing into the Premier League, Norwich immediately suffered relegation to the Championship, but Lewis featured 28 times. He impressed enough for Newcastle to shell £15 million to sign him.

However, he has struggled to establish himself with the Magpies, making only 36 appearances since the signing.

Newcastle already have three left-backs in their squad. Dan Burn, Matt Targett, and Paul Dummett are all fighting for their place in the first XI, and Lewis was surplus to requirements. 

He has joined the Hornets for the coming season and hopes to make a solid impact on Valerien Ismael’s team.

Interestingly, the signing comes only two days after FIFA removed the temporary transfer ban imposed on Watford. 

FIFA had placed them under a ban after a claim by the Megamu Football Academy in Nigeria that they were owed an outstanding payment for striker Samuel Kalu. 

Megamu Academy raised the matter with FIFA, and the Football Association (FA) had to ban Watford. 

However, the money was a paltry sum, and Watford sorted it quickly. FIFA has now removed the ban. 

Watford have added Lewis to their squad, and he becomes their fifth summer signing. They have also signed Rhys Healy, Tom Ince, Jake Livermore, and Giorgi Chakvetadze.