Watford have signed left-sided defender Yasser Larouci on a year-long loan, with the option to make the transfer permanent.

Larouci was on loan with Sheffield United in the Premier League last season.

The 23-year-old Algerian international began his career with French club Le Havre where he captained their Under-17 team.

He allowed his contract to run down and joined Liverpool in 2017, playing for the Under-18s and Under-21s where he converted from an out-and-out winger to an attacking full-back.

Larouci was part of the Reds team that won the FA Youth Cup in 2019, beating Manchester City on penalties.

He made his senior debut against Everton in the FA Cup Third Round in January 2020, and also played in the Fourth Round at Shrewsbury.

After leaving Anfield in summer 2021, he joined French side Troyes.

The wing-back made 44 appearances for the Ligue 1 side, but when they were relegated to League 2 at the end of the 22/23 season, Larouci joined Sheffield United on a season-long with an option for the English club to sign him permanently.

He featured in the first four Premier League games of the season, but then only made one substitute appearance in the next 13.

At the end of the season he had made 11 Premier League outings for the Blades, as well as one in both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

Larouci holds dual nationality for both France and Algeria, and was capped six times by the French Under-21 side before switching to Algeria in 2023.

He made his debut in a friendly against Egypt, and his second and most recent cap was against Somalia in a World Cup qualifier in November 2023.

• The club have also confirmed the departure of Óber Almanza, with the midfielder joining Romanian side Bihor Oradea on a free transfer.