Watford have completed the signing of Italian midfielder Edoardo Bove on a five-and-a-half-year deal. The 23-year-old joins the Championship club on a free transfer, marking his return to professional football. Bove underwent a medical on Monday before finalising the move.
Bove suffered a cardiac arrest in December 2024 while on loan at Fiorentina during a Serie A match against Inter Milan. He subsequently had a defibrillator fitted. Italian regulations prohibit players with such devices from competing, but English rules permit it, according to OneFootball.
The former Roma academy graduate made 92 appearances for his boyhood club and 15 for Fiorentina. Watford's assistant to the sporting director, Valon Behrami, expressed delight at securing Bove. He is not expected to feature for four to six weeks as he regains match fitness.
