‘Ashley Young to sign for new club after Watford return falls through’
Ashley Young is set to join a new club after his move to former side Watford fell through due to an issue in negotiations.
Young has been a Premier League regular for close to 20 years now, having come through Watford’s youth ranks to make his senior professional debut back in 2003.
He has racked up over 480 appearances in the top-flight, winning the league with Man United in 2013, and was most recently with Everton after a 2023 move there from Aston Villa.
Football Insider revealed in May that David Moyes did not see 40-year-old Young as part of his Everton plans for next season, and Young posted a heartfelt message to Toffees fans upon news of his impending exit at the end of his contract in June.
The ex-England international was expected to join former club Watford [The Sun] after his Toffees departure, but a late snag in negotiations has ended their pursuit of his services, and he is now close to joining a different club.
Ashley Young is set to join Ipswich Town
Despite being close to a move to the Hornets, the Watford Observer (21 July) have reported that Young’s lofty wage demands have now ruled out a return to Vicarage Road this summer.
A new report from talkSPORT (21 July) claims that he is instead now set to join Championship outfit Ipswich Town following their recent relegation from the Premier League under Kieran McKenna.
Football Insider revealed on 14 July that Young was unlikely to remain in the top-flight next season, and it now looks as if he has had to drop to the second-tier to find a new club not long after turning 40-years-old.
Young would be a stellar signing for Ipswich
Football Insider verdict
Despite his age, Young has shown that he can still be vital member of a decent Premier League side in his two previous seasons on Merseyside, with over 30 appearances made in each campaign.
Watford looked to be closing in on somewhat of a coup in the last few days as he seemingly neared a move back to Vicarage Road, but they have made the right move not to break their wage structure to sign a player who is now 40-years-old.
Instead it looks to be the Tractor Boys who will benefit from his experience and quality in the next 12 months, and possibly beyond, and he will surely be a top operator at second-tier level if the move is confirmed soon.
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 485 | 49 | 73 |
The versatile full-back told talkSPORT recently that he feels “as fit as I have done for years,” and so it is clear that he plans on prolonging his career, despite his son Tyler being on the opposite side in a January FA Cup clash for Everton against Peterborough United.
Young will undoubtedly be a solid option in McKenna’s side, as his nous will guide their younger players next season as they look to challenge for promotion, and he is still a dependable player in an attacking sense who can still chip in with goals and assists when needed.