Watford have completed their first signing of the summer after confirming the arrival of Ben Wilmot on a five-year contract.

The centre-back has been a long-term target for the Hornets and they saw a £500,000 bid rejected by Stevenage in the January transfer window.

Watford had to up their offer to £1 million to get the deal over the line, but will view that figure as a sound investment on a player with vast potential.

They faced competition from a host of Premier League and Championship sides to secure the 18-year-old’s signature, but have beaten the chasing pack to sign a highly-rated player.

Wilmot put pen to paper on a deal which ties him to the club until the summer of 2023 and signed the contract alongside his parents and Watford’s head of football recruitment Andy Scott.

Despite limited experience, Wilmot has been highly coveted since making his senior debut in October 2017 and Watford will hope he can go on to establish himself at Vicarage Road.

He made 15 outings for Stevenage, his only appearances at senior level, last season as they finished 16th in League Two.

The defender’s arrival comes as little surprise after a season in which injury and inconsistency cost the Hornets at the back.

Craig Cathcart and Younes Kaboul spent much of the season on the sidelines, while the likes of Miguel Britos, Christian Kabasele and Sebastian Prodl have all toiled to fined fitness and form at points throughout the campaign.