Watford FC is delighted to confirm the signing of Mitchel Bergkamp, who joins the club's Under-23s subject to international clearance.
The 22-year-old attacking midfielder has signed a six-month contract with an option of a further deal and wants to repay the faith shown in him by Omer Riza, the Lead Coach of the Under-23s.
“I'm very pleased and really excited for the future,” said Bergkamp. “It's great to get this opportunity and I can't wait to get on the pitch and start the hard work. I've been on trial, I've been working hard and I'm just really glad to get the chance to prove myself.”
Bergkamp spent nine years with Almere City in Holland before moving to England this year.
“I wanted to try something new and I'm really looking forward to the new adventure,” he said. “I'm so happy. It's been an amazing and a wonderful experience so far. The facilities are great, the pitches are amazing and it's a pleasure to be here every day.”
Bergkamp describes himself as “an attacking midfielder, a No.10” who “likes to keep possession, create chances and score goals”.
“I want to prove myself with the Under-23s and then one day hopefully get an opportunity for the first team,” he said. “But it all starts with hard work.”
Bergkamp comes from the finest of stock, his father Dennis, now 51, having gone down in Premier League folklore as one of the greatest players to grace the top league in this country after what he did at Arsenal for 11 years.
“When I was younger it was difficult [to be compared all the time] but I've adapted to it now,” he said. “It's just my name and I'm my own player and hopefully I can leave my own legacy. He's been amazing to me and for me. He's my No.1 fan and has always been there for me. It's a privilege to have him as my dad and to work with him on my game.”
