Watford Women head into their first National League South match of the season with new seven new signings.
They travel to face Hashtag United this afternoon (2pm kick-off) following relegation from the Championship last season.
Goalkeeper Maria O’Sullivan, defenders Ellie Bishop and Daisy Hind, and forwards Lachante Paul and Maddison Perry have all put pen to paper for the new campaign, bolstering the exciting young squad that new head coach Renee Hector is assembling.
Meanwhile two players have joined on dual-sign agreements from Women’s Super League clubs: Jessie Gale arrives from Arsenal and Clarabella Hall links up with the Golden Girls from Brighton & Hove Albion
Cork-born keeper O’Sullivan, 22, signs from Irish side Galway United, having also turned out for her home city between 2018 and 2022. O’Sullivan also represented Ireland at several ages in the youth squad and skippered Cork City to the FAI Cup final at just 19 years old.
The young stopper’s inclusion in the squad is subject to international clearance.
Tough-tackling defender Bishop joins the Hornets following her departure from Women’s Super League side Tottenham Hotspur, typically operating on the right side of defence.
The 19-year-old last featured in the National League for Norwich City, winning the Canaries' Young Player of the Season award in 2021/22 aged just 17.
Eighteen-year-old Daisy Hind arrives from Chelsea with youth pedigree for club and country. The young centre-back has represented England at Under-17 level alongside former Watford loanees Michelle Agyemang, Araya Dennis, Katie Reid and Laila Harbert.
Hind regularly impressed in the Blues' Under-21 backline, playing a key role in two FA Academy Cup-winning sides.
Moving into attack, Jamaican international Paul brings experience from the top three tiers of women’s football to Watford’s talented side.
Relocating back south after spells with Huddersfield Town and Burnley in the National League North, the former Arsenal youth product also enjoyed promotion to the Women’s Super League with Leicester City in 2020/21.
The 22-year-old is composed in front of goal and can play across the front line.
Perry joins following her departure from Reading where she gainedexperience in the top two tiers of women’s football at the age of 18.
She had been with the Royals for five years, making her first-team debut against Manchester United in September 2022. The teenager would go on to play five times in the top-flight for the Berkshire outfit before becoming a regular in the team in the second-tier the following season.
Seventeen-year-old forward Gale joined Arsenal’s Under-21 team from Charlton Athletic in January.
She helped the young Gunners win the PGA Southern League title as well as the Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup tournament in Switzerland.
Eighteen-year-old midfielder Hall has previously played for both Charlton and Millwall.
She made her debut for Brighton’s first-team in February, in a Women’s FA Cup clash with Wolves.
Alongside the new arrivals, the Hornets confirm the retention of the following players:
Jacqui Goldsmid
Anne Meiwald
Sophie McLean
Gemma Davison
Annie Rossiter
Ellie Head
Drè Georgiou
Megan Chandler
Poppy Wilson
Kalani Peart
Flo Fyfe
Jade Bradley
Coral Haines
Melis Mehmet
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