Doucoure renews with Watford until 2023

Watford have tied down midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure to a new five-year contract.

The 25-year-old French midfielder was a standout performer for the Hornets last season, scoring seven goals to be named Watford’s player of the year by both his team-mates and supporters.

Doucoure had been linked to a reunion with former boss Marco Silva at Everton, while Tottenham were also reportedly interested in the ex-Rennes player.

His absence from Watford’s pre-season fixtures served to fuel speculation but head coach Javi Gracia insisted injury was the sole reason for Doucoure missing out and he has now penned a deal running until 2023 at Vicarage Road.

“It has become perfectly clear that our ambitions as a club match Abdoulaye’s ambitions as a player and we are looking forward to continuing to work together to reach our goals,” said Watford chairman and chief executive Scott Duxbury.

| @abdoudoucoure16 #FiveMoreYears #watfordfc pic.twitter.com/xrl395r7NX

— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) August 2, 2018

Doucoure joined Watford in January 2016 before spending the remainder of that season on loan with Granada in Spain.

The former France Under-21 international has played 62 times for the Hornets, scoring eight times.