Bayli Spencer-Adams has signed for Watford on a one-year deal after his release by Arsenal this summer.

Watford confirmed the signing of Spencer-Adams on a one-year deal with the option for an additional 12 months on Monday.

The 18-year-old centre-back wasn’t offered a professional contract with Arsenal after completing his scholarship deal, so he was free to leave as of July 1st. It appears Arsenal decided to let him go after an injury prematurely ended his season in January.

Spencer-Adams would have had to step up to the u23s next season, after turning 18 last month, and there were just too many players ahead of him for that to be a worthwhile option.

Mark McGuinness and Harry Clarke formed an excellent centre-back partnership for the Arsenal u18s, and they’ll both be stepping up as well, joining the likes of Daniel Ballard, Zech Medley, Ben Sheaf and others in the u23s, so there was just no space for another defender.

It’s a shame because Spencer-Adams was far from the worst performer for the u18s last campaign, he’s just been unlucky with his injury and the stacked squad. Hopefully, he’ll be able to revitalise his career with Watford now.

‘Buzzing to be here’

“I’m buzzing to be here,” Spencer-Adams told WatfordFC. “Watford is a really great club that pushed for Europe and got to a cup final last season, as well as playing a lot of young players, so it’s good to get this opportunity with a Premier League club.

“I’m a strong, physical defender who likes to get stuck in. I’m also comfortable on the ball and with my feet and I like to be a leader who communicates with my team.

“My target this year is to hopefully train regularly with the first-team and maybe make a few appearances on the bench, and eventually I’d like to break into the first-team.”