Celtic must regret Rocco Vata transfer after new Watford price-tag reveal
Celtic should be furious with a new update on Rocco Vata’s future and valuation at Watford after he left them for the Championship club last year.
It has often been tough for Celtic to promote youth players into their first-team amid their ongoing pursuit of success in domestic and European competitions.
They are one of the few Scottish sides who have the means to consistently buy proven players from abroad, and the lack of pathway to the first-team has seen a number of young stars depart for more game-time in years gone by.
Rocco Vata joined the club at the age of seven, and found his way through their youth ranks to make six appearances for the Hoops senior side between 2022 and 2024.
Highly-rated winger Vata was linked to Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2024 after rejecting a new Celtic contract due to a lack of opportunities, but he instead joined Watford, where he has shone in the last 18 months.
Vata’s strong Watford form attracts Crystal Palace and Fulham interest and £20m valuation
Vata was instantly a regular in Watford’s first-team squads upon his arrival last summer, and he netted his first goal for the club in his 12th appearance against Hull City in December.
He ended 2024-25 with four goals and four assists in 37 appearances across all competitions, an undoubtedly healthy return for a 19-year-old playing in his first full campaign in senior football.
His strong form saw him handed a maiden senior cap for the Republic of Ireland national team in March against Bulgaria, and his decent form has only carried on into this campaign despite two managerial changes at Vicarage Road in recent months.
The 20-year-old registered two goals and assists each in his first 10 appearances of 2025-26 before suffering a serious hamstring injury last month that is set to keep him out of action for a while.
Despite currently being sidelined, the Daily Mail have reported that Crystal Palace and Fulham are among the clubs who are continuing to monitor Vata, with European sides Atalanta and Eintracht Frankfurt also believed to be interested in his services.
Not only that, but the report states that Watford are set to demand a fee of around £20million for the 20-year-old, as he is under contract until 2028 with the club holding another one year extension option too.
Celtic must rue Vata approach given his potential and high value
Celtic have clearly dropped the ball regarding Vata, as they allowed him to leave for a training compensation fee last year, which would have been a pittance compared to what he is worth now.
Had they treated a player who had been in the academy for 12 years with more respect and acknowledged his potential to be great by giving him more regular first-team chances, then they may have had the chance to sell him for such a big fee themselves in the months to come.
Vata himself admitted after he had left Parkhead that the exit came “earlier than expected” for him, but he felt as if he had to depart for a different opportunity despite being offered a new deal.
Watford’s consistent use of him at first-team level has paid dividends, as they are now due to come into a huge sum of money whenever he is likely snapped up by a bigger club.
Palace have bought into EFL talent in recent years, with Romain Esse recently signed from Millwall, while Fulham’s trust in young Josh King this season has shown that there is also a clear pathway there for emerging stars to play regularly at the top level.