Walter Mazzarri will have to cut down his Watford squad ahead of the new season after defender Brice Dja Djedje was officially revealed as the clubs’ fifth signing of the summer.

The Ivory Coast international has arrived at Vicarage Road on a four-year deal after Marseille accepted a bid of around £3 million for the player.

The Hornets are certainly meaning business this summer after bringing in Jerome Sinclair, Christian Kabasele, Isaac Succes and Juan Camilo Zuniga on loan.

Djedje has just arrived at Watford from Marseille (Photo: Getty Images)
Djedje has just arrived at Watford from Marseille (Photo: Getty Images)

Djedje is a welcome addition to squad

Having captured Djedje, new boss Mazzarri, who has made it clear the 3-5-2 formation will be the one used this season, has someone to occupy the right wing-back position.

The 25-year-old was a target of Mazzarri’s when the Italian was in charge in Serie A, and the defender fits into the new formation, especially after Zuniga’s capture.

“I feel with him I can continue to progress,” Djedje said in an interview with L’Equipe.

“He wants to play his 3-5-2 team, this is a system that suits me well because we played a slightly similar way with Marcelo (Bielsa).”

The Hornets have to loan or sell six foreign players (Photo: Getty Images)
The Hornets have to loan or sell six foreign players (Photo: Getty Images)

Mazzarri will have to cut down squad

The full-back, who came through the youth ranks at Paris Saint-Germain, made 93 appearances in four years with Evian before going on to play 62 times in all competitions for Marseille.

He has been capped seven times for his country, but his arrival means six players will have to be sent out on loan or sold on because of Premier League rules.

Mazzarri is currently out in Austria with the squad for a week-long pre-season tour, and it is believed he is using that week to make up his mind.

The deadline for submitting the 25-man squad is September 1, but Djedje’s addition means they have 23 foreign players currently on their books.

Six of these will miss out unfortunately because a maximum of 17 foreign players is allowed to be named in the Premier League squad.

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About the author
Andrew McDonnell
Sports writer based in the North-East of England, safe to say I have found my niche in sports writing and I strive to succeed with everything I do, including Vavel, both in the UK and USA. First official Writer of the week for the USA office too. Cover Manchester United, Watford, Cricket, MLS and NFL.