Watford’s first signing of the summer, Rhys Healey, is eager to get going after making the move to Vicarage Road following an exciting spell in France.
The 28-year-old striker joined the Hornets following the expiration of his contract with Ligue 1 side Toulouse, where he bagged 39 goals in 77 matches over three seasons.
Now back on home soil and beginning his work at the London Colney training ground, Healey is delighted to have seen his move to Watford come to fruition after previous links to the club.
“I’m really excited,” he began. “It’s a huge club with big ambitions and I can’t wait to get going and have the opportunity to be at a club like Watford.
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“I have had a few good seasons. I’m a striker so I have scored a lot of goals and there are a lot of opportunities when people score goals. Watford was mentioned quite a few times and this summer it materialised. It was something that I wanted to jump at with two hands, and I’m just happy and grateful to be given the opportunity to be here.”
Although the clinical finisher has a history playing in Europe, Healey started at Cardiff City, playing in the Premier League for the Bluebirds during his time in the Welsh capital.
However, Healey points to his time in France – where he won the second-tier in 2022 – as key to his development as a footballer as he looks to take the next step as a Hornet.
“[Toulouse] was a major factor in my career and I enjoyed a lot of success,” he continued.
“The first year was difficult, but after that, I settled in really well over there. It was good because I got to learn about a lot of different cultures while bringing my English culture over there, but overall, it was three years of my career that really took off. I really enjoyed being there.
“In my second year over in Toulouse we won the league and as a player these are the things you play football for. I was just fortunate enough to be there and be a part of something by winning some silverware.”
His goalscoring exploits on the continent earned Healey his own chant, while he also featured alongside fellow Watford striker Vakoun Bayo across the Channel.
“Healey’s on fire!” he laughed. “It was unusual because I didn’t expect anything like that and to have my own song out there was amazing for me and my family.
“[Vakoun and I] played for a full season out in Toulouse. We played together, we scored a lot of goals between us, and he is a good guy on and off the pitch. As soon as I knew I was coming here, I was looking forward to seeing him and being reunited with him.”
In his message to the Watford faithful, the Englishman explained what the supporters have to look forward to and what he is hoping to achieve in yellow.
“I want to break into the team and show my qualities,” he said. “Obviously, I like scoring goals and I want to score as many as I can, but for me, I want to give everything and work hard for the team.
“At a club like Watford obviously the ambition is to take the club back to the Premier League – that’s my vision in the long-term – but right now, I want to show my qualities and get into the starting XI.
“I think you can expect that in every game and every opportunity I will give 110 per cent. I work really hard. From my size I’m quite feisty some people have said, but you can expect a lot of hard work and when given opportunities in front of goal I’m very good. The hard work comes and then the goals will follow.”
