Andre Gray: Watford sign Burnley striker for club record fee

By Juliette FerringtonBBC Sport

Last updated on 10 August 2017.From the section Football211

Watford have signed striker Andre Gray from Burnley for an undisclosed club record fee - thought to be about £18.5m.

The 26-year-old has signed a five-year deal with the Hornets, who previously had two offers rejected.

Gray was in the final 12 months of his contract with Burnley and had turned down a new deal at Turf Moor.

He scored nine goals last season, despite a four-game ban for homophobic tweets he sent in 2012.

He joined Burnley from Brentford for £9m in 2015 and was a key part of Sean Dyche's 2016 Championship-winning team.

Gray 'ready for the challenge'

"I had a fantastic time at Burnley, being there I achieved my dream of playing in the Premier League and we stayed up last year so I feel like I needed a new challenge," Gray said in a interview on Watford's social media.

"I've still got a lot to learn, so I feel like a new challenge has come at the right time and there's no better place than Watford."

Watford's previous record transfer was midfielder Roberto Pereyra, who joined from Italian champions Juventus on an undisclosed fee last August.

Analysis

BBC Three Counties Radio sports editor Geoff Doyle

Andre Gray would seem to be an ideal fit for Watford.

The Hornets have relied too much on Troy Deeney in the past 18 months and in Gray they get a man with Premier League goalscoring experience. He is a good age and his pace is something the current Watford squad lacks.

His spell at old rivals Luton is a negative but the majority of Hornets fans will not care too much about that.

Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

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211 comments

Comment posted by D1710717513057, at 08:49 9 Aug 2017
9 goals in a season and worth £18.5M?
Money really is meaningless in football now.
Comment posted by FiltonWolf, at 09:00 9 Aug 2017
This guy has been linked with Wolves over the past 2-3 weeks with the rumour mill suggesting £20M - always a non starter (why drop down a division?) and for £20M in last year of contract?

Burnley must be laughing their socks off in getting anything between £15 - £20M. If its true I hope it works out for Watford but reckon there are better value buys out there.
Comment posted by D1710654506923, at 09:25 9 Aug 2017
Gray became more and more a peripheral figure at Burnley last season and doesn't really fit well with Dyche's functional, hard working football. But all this talk of West Ham and Spurs didn't come to anything did it? That speaks volumes, as does the fact a small team like Watford is the best he can do. £18m for a unproven prem striker in the last year of his contract? That's good business.
Comment posted by footiefan81, at 08:48 9 Aug 2017
I did not see that coming! But the lad is out of contract next year? Good deal by Watford in addition to the Brazilian lad yesterday. The need for Burnley to act quickly in reinvesting in a replacement is obvious - otherwise could be a difficult season.
Comment posted by Glad All Over - CPFC, at 09:21 9 Aug 2017
Turning into a bit of a disastrous summer for Burnley unless they recruit smartly at the end of the window. Losing Gray, Michael Keane, Barton and George Boyd and replacing them with Jon Walters, Phil Beardsley, Jack Cork and Charlie Taylor has to be seen as a definite downgrade. Will have to hope that their team being cohesive and home form keeps them safe.
Comment posted by HackneyClaret, at 11:00 9 Aug 2017
Towards the end of the season, Gray wasn't being picked, others were getting in ahead then he slaps in a HUGE wage request. 1 year left on his contract and Burnley can double their money, no brainer really. They have to go and invest that money wisely and are still looking for the Marque signing. Going forward, I doubt they will miss Gray... Keane is a big hole still unfilled.
Comment posted by Itsonlymyopinion, at 18:52 9 Aug 2017
Not a supporter of either Watford or Burnley, but what pathetic, immature comments from Luton supporters. No wonder football is going down the tube. Supporters could learn a lot from rugby union and rugby league fans about how to conduct themselves.
Comment posted by Rob, at 16:36 9 Aug 2017
I've cancelled Sky and can confirm the following:
1. We have oxygen, water and food at home
2. Kids have returned to a non American language..Mancunian in our case
3. Wife who doesn't speak to me as I watch sport is still not talking to me

So life without Sky and my £42pcm seems fine!! 😀😀
Comment posted by Penelope Poopsalot, at 08:38 9 Aug 2017
Another very good signing for Watford - but report it when news please. I think McNutly's prediction they'll be relegated is already looking like the ravings of mad man
Comment posted by Rob, at 19:01 9 Aug 2017
In 1995..an acquaintance suggested that watching or paying for BSKYB would ruin the game. I laughed at him then but not laughing now.
Young boys driving flash cars at my expense? No more. Cancelled my SKY and I'm over the moon. Join me guys?!!!
Comment posted by D1710851100059, at 08:47 9 Aug 2017
1. Yeah I don't see Watford being near relegation this coming season. One or two more signings and they'll manage fine.
Comment posted by Notcodzwallop, at 14:28 9 Aug 2017
Burnley must be laughing straight 2 the bank... an unproven PL striker doubled his value with an average of less than a goal every 4 games..!
Comment posted by jakehorwood, at 09:28 9 Aug 2017
This is a great buy for Watford. Stats last season are irrelevant (although 9 goals for Burnley is hardly bad...), the main thing is Watford need a pacy striker to partner or provide another option to Deeney. Would also fit Silva's style of play plerfectly. Anyone who thinks we're heading down has no clue at all.
Comment posted by sarcasticus, at 10:34 9 Aug 2017
Sky Sports reporting the fee is nearer £11.5m. Let's be honest, he's worth a punt at that price. If Deeney stays I'm sure he can be a great influence on him too.
Comment posted by Herts_clarets, at 13:43 9 Aug 2017
Good deal for Burnley if we can sign a decent replacement. Would have walked for nothing in 10 months, clearly wanted out - I am guessing to be closer to his latest celebrity squeeze in London. Repeatedly offside, the first touch of a dog chasing a balloon, reasonable pace but not blistering. 9 goals last season, 3 in one game. Take the Sunderland goals out, he is a 1 in 6 striker.
Comment posted by paulclaret1996, at 11:35 9 Aug 2017
No 13 Ty from Arsenal

Only way you can actually beat us is to rely on cheating and dodgy late refereeing decisions

Suggest you concentrate on your own club, lack of recent Prem success, crowd protests, lack of atmosphere and impression that you have some God given right to be seen as a successful club

Enjoy the Champions League this year - oops sorry forgot, Spurs beat you to it !!!!!
Comment posted by Markthehorn, at 09:38 9 Aug 2017
20. Nib - We have a high number of former youth players in the football league so certainly do bring youngsters through.

Ok they don't play for us but look at Man C/Chelsea/Arsenal/Man U...

Everyone has spent big!

Its the demand of the league for instant success and results that means clubs cannot just rely on young players and hope they turn out good.
Comment posted by User0925729455, at 10:21 9 Aug 2017
@33

You say we've 'brought in 'next to no-one' yet we are the seventh highest spenders this summer and have signed nine players. Money is not everything though and we got promoted with one of the smallest budgets in the championship. Sometimes, with good leadership and the club, fans, players and coach all pulling together the sum is a lot greater than the individual parts
Comment posted by yellotoyou, at 09:27 9 Aug 2017
20. Nib. That's just not true Watford have brought through a number of players from their academy but have to compete in the Premiership with other clubs who spend far bigger bucks than this on their team.
Comment posted by D1710578563385, at 17:08 9 Aug 2017
It's only a handful of years ago that £18.5 million would've smashed the transfer record. You'd have got a Shearer, Aguero, Drogba level player for that.

Now it buys you a decent-ish player who managed 9 goals last season.

The (football) world has gone completely mad.