Defender Joao Ferreira has joined Portuguese side Braga on a season-long loan with an option to buy.

Braga finished fourth in the Primeira Liga last season, and as a consequence have qualified for the Europa League.

The 23-year-old spent most of pre-season with Udinese at their training camp in Austria, having spent last season on loan at the Serie A side.

However, Kosta Runjaic who was recently appointed manager, taking over from Fabio Cannavaro who kept Udinese in the top-flight after a season of struggle, decided not to take the defender.

Ferreira made 37 league and cup appearances for Udinese last season, 19 of them as a starter.

He cost Watford some £2m from Benfica in the ill-fated January 2023 transfer window, and made only five appearances during the second half of that season.

Capped by his country at all age groups from Under-15 to Under-19, Ferreira had spent time away from Benfica on loan at Vitoria de Guimaraes and Rio Ave before switching to Vicarage Road.