Emmanuel Dennis Succour from Vicarage Road

Club Brugge were emphatic in rejecting him, while FC Klon where he spent half of last reason on loan did not mince words in expressing their regrets at signing him. Against all odds, however, newly promoted Premier League side, Watford have decided to take a gamble on Emmanuel Dennis to add to the three Nigerians in their fold. The big question however is whether he could leverage on the Vicarage Road move to revive his dwindling career

In modern football, most transfers come after many links arise on websites and social media. However, Watford moved swiftly and in silence to secure the services of Nigerian international Emmanuel Dennis from Club Brugge. Reports of any negotiations between Watford and Dennis were non-existent prior to the confirmation of the deal.
Dennis on Monday completed his transfer from Belgian champions Club Brugge to newly-promoted English Premier League side Watford FC for an undisclosed fee.

The speedy striker spent half of the 2020/21 season out on loan at FC Cologne where he played nine matches in the German Bundesliga without scoring a single goal.
According to the club’s official website:
“An agreement with Club Brugge has been reached for the transfer of exciting young forward Emmanuel Dennis, Watford FC is delighted to confirm,” a statement read.

The 23-year-old Nigerian spent part of last season on loan in Germany’s Bundesliga with FC Koln, having first joined the Belgian top-flight side in the summer of 2017.
A scorer of 27 goals in just over 90 club appearances for Brugge, he has featured in both the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.
The Hornets are currently finalising personal terms with the pacy striker – capped twice by Nigeria so far.
Watford have demonstrated huge confidence in Dennis despite the many controversies surrounding him by giving him a five-year contract.

The 23-year-old winger, who Watford described as “exciting, young forward”, has signed a contract with Watford till June 2026 after Belgian champions Club Brugge made it very clear he does not have a future with them.
Club Brugge will also receive between four and five million Euros as transfer fee on the player.
Dennis was accused of being a bad influence in the Club Brugge dressing room.

He was also handed a ban for dangerous driving and he was involved in a row over sitting arrangement in Club Brugge team bus ahead of a UEFA Champions League tie.
Cologne sporting director Horst Heldt expressed his regret in signing Dennis after he joined the Bundesliga side from Club Brugge temporarily in January as the German side try to explore every available options to find the back of the net in the 2020/2021 campaign.

According to a German website Mobil express, the 51-year-old Heldt confessed that Dennis was a fine footballer but that his character affected his integration with his teammates and the club.
“He’s not an easy guy,” Heldt said of Dennis, We knew about this problem, but we took too much risk. We misjudged that.”
“Dennis caused a stir because his behaviour was not what the squad needs to be doing. We then dropped him because our priority was the group.

“That was a bad transfer that is my responsibility.”
The Yola, Nigeria-born striker managed to register a goal in a DFB Pokal game against Jahn Regensburg but did not find the back of the net in any Bundesliga game during his time with Cologne.
Part of his reportedly bad attitude while under contract this past season with Club Brugge was also down to his desire to depart in the 2020 summer transfer window, but the Belgian champions did not let him leave. Reports suggested that in 2020, Arsenal saw a £15 million bid rejected, as well as a £12 million bid turned away the summer prior.

Considering clubs such as Arsenal were willing to offer eight figures for his signature, the player’s qualities are well-documented. In the 2019/20 season, Dennis scored nine times and assisted twice in 33 matches across all competitions, including a memorable brace at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in the Champions League. In 2018/19, Dennis had 10 goal contributions in 32 matches. The season before that he scored 12 goals and provided five assists across 38 matches.

He can play in both central and wide roles. His attacking numbers are impressive; his age and progress indicate he still has plenty of time to further improve.
The 23-year-old’s versatility means he provides firm starting competition for both wing positions and, more notably, the central-forward role. The right-wing is to be occupied by Ismaila Sarr unless an improbable, irrefutable offer arrives. The starting role for the left-wing position, however, remains firmly up for grabs. Dennis will provide a speedy inverted-winger option.

Dennis also provides much-desired starting competition in the centre of the attack, though the Hornets are said to be working on a deal for yet another striker. So, his main position at Vicarage Road remains to be seen.
Adept to both wide and central attacking play, the Hornets have themselves a player who has played naturally, and considerably well, in whichever attacking position they want him to play in.

The Hornets do not have another striker like Dennis in their squad. No other Watford centre-forward is characterised by their rapid pace. Frequently when on the counter-attack, star-winger Sarr’s speed means the supporting Watford cavalry does not arrive until the defense has already retreated. Dennis provides a player who can match Sarr’s blistering sprints on the counter-attack.

Dennis is also known for his well-timed runs behind the defense. Fellow new-signings Imran Louza and Danny Rose have previously provided service for such movement well at their former clubs.
Besides, for the cut-rate price Watford likely coughed up for his signature, the very low risk, super high reward nature of this transfer makes this move yet another extremely shrewd piece of business by Gino Pozzo. How well he integrates at Vicarage Road in his attempt to revive his career remains to be seen.
Dennis began his professional career with some experience as a teenager in the Ukrainian Premier League with Zorya Luhansk.

He is the eighth African player on the books of Watford joining William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria), Tom Dele-Bashiru (Nigeria), Adam Masina (Morocco), Isaac Success (Nigeria), Ismaïla Sarr (Senegal), Imran Louza (Morocco) and Kwadwo Baah (Ghana).