Watford agree deal for Benfica right-back Joao Ferreira

Watford have agreed on a deal with Benfica to sign right-back Joao Ferreira, according to The Athletic. They will pay the Portuguese giants £2 million for the youngster.

Ferreira is already in Hertfordshire to complete the formalities like medicals and signing the contract. The 21-year-old returned from his loan to Rio Ave and will now join the Championship club permanently.

Ferreira will sign a deal that will run until 2027. He will add to the club’s right-back options, competing with Jeremy Ngakia and Mario Gaspar. He can also operate as a left-back and provide competition for Hassane Kamara.

Ferreira has played for Portugal across the nation’s various youth levels. He played from the under-15s to the under-19s, but he is yet to play for the under-21s or the senior national team.

Ferreira went on loan to Vitoria de Guimaraes last season and made 14 league appearances. He didn’t score but provided two assists and created two big chances.

Ferreira would join Rio Ave at the beginning of this season but has not started a Primeira Liga game. All his appearances have come from the bench.

Juventus and Lille previously showed interest in Ferreira’s services, but Benfica rejected their offers.

Ferreira’s signing was the handwork of new technical director Ben Manga. The former Equatorial Guinea international has already brought in two stars. Ferreira is his third signing.

Manga has secured Matheus Martins from Fluminense and midfielder Ismael Kone arriving from FC Montreal.

Watford head coach Slaven Bilic needs all the reinforcement he can get with as many as 11 players out with injuries. Talisman Joao Pedro was the latest to suffer, and the club announced he is out for six to eight weeks.

Watford face Norwich today, looking to push into the Premier League qualification spots. Their squad has been decimated with injuries, but they will hope they can defeat the Canaries sitting a point below them.