Latest news with #WatfordFC
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Watford FC helps to plant trees with kit sales
A football club is joining a campaign to plant trees by donating money from shirt side Watford FC has unveiled its new 2025/26 away kit, which is made from recycled club will donate 50p from every away shirt sale to Your Tree Our Future - a free tree giveaway programme in by the county and borough councils, the project aimed to get 1.8 million new trees planted by 2030. In the past four years, 191,000 trees have been planted in Hertfordshire in places including gardens and Watford alone, 5,000 trees were handed out to residents this year, taking the total over the whole scheme to 13,000. The away shirt is aptly coloured forest green, and matches the kit's black shorts and green can choose to buy tops without the branding of a local gambling company, although, on the pitch, players' shirts will feature the sponsor's logo. Tarang Panchal, head of procurement and sustainability at the club, said: "We have an ambition to be one of the most sustainable, green football clubs in the UK, and the launch of our away kit is very much aligned with this vision."He said the recycled polyester kit and tree planting pledge were "part of a development plan with short, medium and long-term goals".He added: "For example, we recently partnered with The Wildlife Trust, an organisation that would help us to develop the training ground from a biodiversity and ecological point of view." Ian Stotesbury, a Liberal Democrat councillor with a responsibility for sustainability at Watford Borough Council, said: "Watford FC continues to lead by example – aiming for net zero by 2040 and a 50% carbon cut by 2030."Linking their new away kit sales to the Your Tree Our Future programme also supports Watford's ambition to be a carbon-neutral town by 2030."Trees help absorb carbon and clean the air, making a real difference to our environment. "All the club does for the community highlights why they are the original family club," he said. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Arab News
3 days ago
- Sport
- Arab News
Australia winger Irankunda completes Watford switch from Bayern Munich
LONDON: Australia international Nestory Irankunda has joined Watford on a five-year deal from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, the English Championship club announced on Friday. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The highly-rated 19-year-old, who made his debut for the Socceroos last June, made the switch for an undisclosed transfer fee. 'Nestory can be a very special player and we believe he can realize his potential here, with us,' said Watford sporting director Gian Luca Nani. We are delighted to confirm the arrival of exciting forward Nestory Irankunda on a long-term permanent deal from Bayern Munich. Thrilled to have you with us, Nestory! — Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) July 18, 2025 'Nestory was extremely sought-after and thanks to our established scouting network and connections we were able to be ahead of others in the race to sign players of this potential.' Irankunda made his professional debut as a 15-year-old for Adelaide United during the 2021/22 season and came to prominence with an eye-catching performance playing for an A-League select side against Barcelona. Born in Tanzania to parents from Burundi who moved to Australia when he was three months old, Irankunda chose to represent Australia at international level and was given his first cap by former coach Graham Arnold in June 2024. He scored his first goal for the country later that month against Palestine in his second appearance for the Socceroos before completing a move to Bayern Munich in an A-League record deal. He made his fifth appearance for Australia in a 3-1 win over China in October last year during Asia's World Cup preliminaries but has not been selected since by current coach Tony Popovic.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Boost for Socceroos as Irankunda signs five-year deal
English soccer fans can brace themselves for plenty of dazzling backflips with young Socceroos star Nestory Irankunda securing a five-year deal with Championship outfit Watford. The Hornets announced the signing on their website late Friday, with club sporting director Gian Luca Nani taking great pride in welcoming Irankunda. It's official! 🤝✍️🫎Nestory Irankunda has joined Watford FC on a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee from Bayern Munich 🇩🇪✈️🏴#SocceroosAbroad — Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) July 18, 2025 "Nestory was extremely sought after and thanks to our established scouting network and connections we were able to be ahead of others in the race to sign players of this potential," said Nani. "Crucially, we were able to move quickly when opportunities like this arise and that's been the hallmark of our successful recruitment." The news is sure to delight Socceroos mentor Tony Popovic with next year's World Cup in mind. Irankunda is an unquestionable talent but struggled to get game time at Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich. Popovic spoke of wanting to see the 19-year-old playing consistently and developing more, and at Vicarage Road he is set to get that chance. "Nestory can be a very special player and we believe he can realise his potential here," said Nani. "He is exactly the sort of profile Paulo (coach Paulo Pezzolano) wanted in a winger. "The player wanted to come here as he sees the pathway, he has seen how we develop young players at Watford and the vision we have for this club. "We are absolutely delighted to have signed Nestory and he's added further to the huge feel-good factor around the training ground. "We're thrilled to have you with us, Nestory!" Named as one of 'top 50 wonderkids' in March last year, Irankunda was an unused substitute twice for Bayern - including in a UEFA Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk in December. The youngster, known for his exuberant backflips when celebrating a goal, made 15 appearances for the German side's second string and scored four goals before being handed the chance of top-flight football with a loan spell at Grasshopper Club Zurich. He played 19 times for the Swiss Super League side, scoring once. Irankunda first burst onto the scene at Adelaide United during the 2021/22 season, making his debut and scoring his first goal directly from a free-kick when he was just 15. He made 61 appearances for the club over three seasons, scoring 16 goals and jointly winning the A-League's Young-Player-of-the-Year award at the end of 2023/24. Irankunda has five Socceroos caps and scored his maiden international goal in the World Cup qualifier against Palestine in June last year under then coach Graham Arnold.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hornets confirm signing of striker Semedo
Vivaldo Semedo has become Watford's fifth confirmed addition this summer (Image: Alan Cozzi/Watford FC) Watford have confirmed the signing of Vivaldo Semedo and believe he will develop into a 'top-class striker' but will 'definitely play a role" this season. As the Watford Observer previously reported, the 20-year-old has signed a five-year contract after making the permanent move from Udinese. Advertisement Vivaldo Semedo has become Watford's fifth confirmed addition this summer (Image: Alan Cozzi/Watford FC) 'Vivaldo is exactly the kind of player profile we want and need at Watford,' said sporting director Gian Luca Nani. 'He is only 20 and we are sure he will develop into a top-class striker because his pace and strength already mark him out as a great prospect. 'He will learn under Paulo [Pezzolano] and we know he will adapt quickly to English football because we have already seen the development over a short period of time. 'We think he is the future but he will also definitely play a role this season in the Championship.' Advertisement Semedo becomes the Hornets' fifth signing this summer after Hector Kyrprianou, Nathan Baxter and Marc Bola moved to Vicarage Road and James Abankwah returned on a season-long loan, but he will not be the last. Confirmation of Caleb Wiley's return on loan from Chelsea is expected shortly, winger Pape Diallo is close to completing a move from Metz and Watford are also in the market for more attacking options. The striker is getting used to his new surroundings at London Colney (Image: Alan Cozzi/Watford FC) Born in Angola, Semedo moved to Udinese on a three-year deal in 2022, having joined Sporting Lisbon's Academy in 2018. Advertisement The 6ft 4in forward made his debut for the fellow Pozzo-owned club against Hellas Verona in January 2023, moving to Dutch club Volendam on loan 12 months later where he made 13 appearances in the Eredivisie, scoring once. He joined Liga Portugal 2 club Vizela on loan in September last year, firmly establishing himself in the starting XI at the start of this year, scoring nine goals in a run of 18 games to help his side reach the play-offs where the lost 5-2 on aggregate to Avs FS. Overall, the forward, who has been capped at every international age group from Under-17 to Under-20, made 29 appearances last season.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Watford FC 'wanted to keep sponsor logo black' for new home kit
New signing Hector Kyprianou in the new unbranded shirt (Image: Watford FC) Watford FC has admitted the sponsorship logo on its new shirt 'isn't to everyone's taste' and it wanted to keep the black design. The club unveiled its new home kit for the 2025/26 Championship season this morning (July 4), with a yellow and red design it described as 'bold and modern'. Advertisement Online casino website Mr Q is returning as the shirt sponsor for the season, but the company logo will feature blue text on a white background instead of the solely black design from the 2024/25 season. In a social media post, the club said: 'The logo on our new shirt isn't to everyone's taste. 'We really liked the previous black logo and we had lots of dialogue over the summer as we wanted to keep it black to complement the new shirt. Hornets unveil new look for next season Watford unveil new yellow home shirt ahead of 2024/25 season It's official - Watford's shopping centre completes Harlequin name change 'But our sponsors were insistent on their rebrand. Some may like it. Some may not.' Advertisement It added that those who do not like the design are able to purchase unbranded versions of the shirt if they prefer. Giorgi Chakvetadze in the Hornets' 2024/25 home shirt (Image: Watford FC) Sizes from 1-2 years through to adult 4XL, including a dedicated women's fit up to UK size 18, are available to buy from today at the Hornets Shops and the WFC shop website. New signing Hector Kyprianou in the unbranded new shirt (Image: Watford FC)
