Watford welcomes experienced forward Tom Ince in two-year deal

Watford has confirmed the acquisition of seasoned forward Tom Ince from Sky Bet League One side Reading.

The undisclosed deal includes a two-year contract for the 31-year-old player, with an option for a further 12 months.

Born in Stockport and son of former Manchester United and England midfielder Paul Ince, Tom comes to Vicarage Road with an impressive record of 91 goals in 365 Championship appearances.

Tom began his football journey at the Liverpool academy, with stints at Notts County and Blackpool, where he first made a name for himself on the senior stage in 2011.

At the end of his debut season with Blackpool, Tom scored in the Championship play-off final against West Ham United. During his time with the Tangerines, he amassed a total of 33 goals in 113 appearances.

Ince also gained Premier League experience during a brief loan at Crystal Palace in 2013/14, followed by a permanent move to Hull City later that summer.

He represented Hull City in the domestic top-flight and in European competitions. After subsequent loans at Nottingham Forest and Derby County, he made a permanent move to Derby County in 2015, followed by a return to the Premier League with Huddersfield Town two years later. Here he scored twice in 33 games, including a goal against Watford.

His career then led him to Stoke City, where he scored 14 goals in just over 100 matches across four seasons. This stint was punctuated by temporary terms at Luton Town and Reading.

Ince’s time at Reading was short but impactful, contributing nine goals in 38 league outings. However, despite his efforts, Reading was relegated to the third tier.

Having scored five times in nine games against Watford during his career, Ince now looks forward to replicating such form while wearing the Hornets’ yellow jersey. His aim is to support the team’s bid for a Premier League return in the upcoming campaign.

Commenting on his move to Watford, Ince said, “As soon as Watford came calling, I know it’s a massive club with a great fanbase. I’m here to try and help the team and help this club achieve promotion this year and get back into the big time.”

When discussing the deal, he revealed that the Hornets’ desire to secure his services played a crucial role in his decision to join. “Watford were then on the phone and, to be honest, I knew they wanted to get things done quickly. It was nice to have a club that want you,” Ince added.

Reflecting on his positive track record against Watford, Ince joked, “So I’ve been told! It’s nice to be wearing the yellow of Watford and hopefully I can recreate the same stats against other teams.”

While his father, Paul Ince, has been an influential figure in his career, Tom explained that he didn’t need guidance for this opportunity.

He stated, “I said to him that this is a chance for me at my age to sign for a club trying to do well and playing in the big time.”

“I’m happy to be here and I can’t wait to get going,” he said.