Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Rocco Vata has signed for Watford on a four year contract and that the Championship side will pay Celtic in excess of £200k as a cross border development fee.
This brings to an end a long running saga involving the Celtic Academy star who spent ten years at Celtic and was given albeit limited first team exposure by both Ange Postecoglou and Brendan Rodgers.
Free agent
Vata was offered a new contract by Celtic but instead choose to let him contract expire on 30 June
so that he became a free agent. With numerous offers on the table from Italy, the Republic of Ireland U21 forward opted instead for mid-table Championship side Watford. The attraction could well be more first team football that he assessed he’d get at Celtic.
Hopefully we can see more goals like this from Rocco Vata at #WatfordFC. pic.twitter.com/aoIaG5P6vf
— Sam Ucko (@Sam_ucko) July 3, 2024
Moaning about losing another young talent, developed by the Celtic Academy seems pointless now. All that remains to be done is to wish Rocco and his family all the best.
🟡⚫️ Watford have agreed deal to sign 2005 born talent Rocco Vata, medical to follow on Thursday.
Celtic will receive compensation in excess of £200k, contract until June 2028.
Exclusive story, confirmed. pic.twitter.com/oH5RIKypqX
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 3, 2024
CELTIC FAN SURVEY…Celtic Fan Survey 2024, includes section on increasing Safer Standing
Of course it will take time to see if vata has made the right decision for himself?
Personally thought staying with ourselves would have been a better career choice myself?
Think vata is trying to potentially fast track his way into the EPL, and sees Watford as the stepping stone for that to be potentially achieved quicker, with more game time available for himself?
If that is his career path he’s hoping for, then fair enough, especially if it turns out to be successful?
Yet he had the opportunity to build a far higher profile for himself, if he managed to succeed with ourselves, all the same imo?
Even more so with possibly only another season left within Forrest, I would say?
Would have been handy for ourselves to have another potential homegrown player in the making for ourselves, but now Vata didn’t want that pathway for himself, leaves potentially another opportunity for a youngster from the academy?
Young frame was given an opportunity in a CL match last season, and looked a fairly useful player in the making imo?
Maybe vata threw his toys out of the pram over that decision Rodgers made?
Regardless still believe it will be Vata loss and not ours in the future, and hold no hard feelings towards Vata regarding the decision he’s taken whatsoever.