Dennis makes Watford return
The fan favourite striker has re-joined the hornets on a season long loan from Nottingham Forest
Last updated 24th Jan 2024
Emmanuel Dennis has joined former club Watford on loan from Nottingham Forest until the end of the 2023-24 season, the Sky Bet Championship club have announced.
The 26-year-old forward was part of the Hornets side relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2021-22 campaign.
Dennis, who scored 10 goals across 37 games during his first spell at Vicarage Road, spent the first half of this term on loan at Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir.
The Nigeria international started his career with Ukrainian side Zorya Luhansk and first joined Watford from Club Brugge in June 2021, completing his move to Forest the following summer.
He's reportedly taken a 70% pay cut to make the move.
Watford manager Valérien Ismaël says the hunger shown by Emmanuel Dennis was key in his return to Vicarage Road.
“He knows the club and he wanted to come,” said Ismaël on the newest addition to his squad.
“He put a great mentality into the deal to make sure he can come to join us. He’s making a lot of sacrifice, which shows big mentality and that’s why we’re pleased that he’s in.”
“I know him very well for his capability to adapt his pace and his quality in one-v-ones,” said Ismaël.
“We put our attacking players in good positions all the time and sometimes we’re just missing the last pass or the final decision making. We expect him to bring more calmness and ruthlessness in the opposite box.”