Despite Watford signing many senior players to make an instant impact upon their return to the Premier League, the Hornets have also emphasised bolstering their youth ranks to provide a strong foundation for years to come. Early in the transfer window, the club signed teenagers Mattie Pollock and Kwadwo Baah. Watford recently signed Dapo Mebude to add to the club’s youth depths. What the future has in store for the youngster remains to be seen.
Dapo Mebude Could Go Far at Watford
Hornets Forward’s Career Thus Far
The Hornets sign Mebude after he left Rangers at the beginning of July. He came through the Scottish giant’s youth ranks, making his senior debut for the Glasgow side in the May of 2019. His contract at Watford is initially for two seasons with the option for the club to extend it another two campaigns.
The 19-year-old was born in London, though he has represented Scotland at the youth level. For their U19 side, he has scored four times in 11 appearances.
The attacker, who can play centrally or out wide, claimed, “When I play as a winger, I try and be direct and score goals like Raheem Sterling who is fast, direct, and a similar build to me.” His talents earned him a loan to Queen of the South FC in the Scottish second tier. He scored twice in 11 appearances, lining up on both flanks, as a centre-forward, and even as an attacking midfielder.
Dapo Mebude Likely to be Sent on Loan in Immediate Future
According to Adam Leventhal of The Athletic, Mebude is likely to spend next season out on loan. Considering Watford have signed Joshua King, Emmanuel Dennis, and Ashley Fletcher, with Cucho Hernandez also returning from loan, Mebude is far down the present pecking order at Vicarage Road.
A loan move will allow Mebude to further develop while playing consistent first-team football. If a team accepts Watford’s offer to take Mebude on loan, he will be following in the footsteps of Tiago Cukur, one of Watford’s best young attacking talents who just departed on loan to Doncaster Rovers.
What the Distant Future May Hold
As is the case with many youngsters such as Mebude, predicting their exact career trajectory is difficult. However, considering Mebude’s break into a talented squad when he was just 17-years-old, the player has no shortage of potential. He scored while lining up with the Hornets’ senior squad in a friendly against Colchester United. When considering his versatility, direct style of play, and confidence when on the ball, if his next loan move turns out to be a successful one, he has what it takes to break through at Vicarage Road sooner than later. This admittedly means if his loan move fails due to his ambitious style of play, then his future will likely lay elsewhere.
Much of when a potential Vicarage Road breakthrough occurs will also depend on the Hornets’ future destination. If they are to stay in the Premier League, then one loan move will likely not be enough for Mebude to be Watford first-team ready. If relegation strikes Watford once again, then they will be more inclined to lean on their new young core of players such as Baah, Pollock, and Mebude.
Mebude, who impressed with one goal and two assists in five UEFA Youth League appearances in the 2019/20 campaign, is a name to keep an eye on for the future. The importance of the destination of his imminent loan move cannot be ignored.
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