Ashley Young could be set for his next chapter, with the former Everton player emerging as a target for a Championship club.
Ashley Young was one of a host of players at Everton to leave at the end of their contracts.
We can confirm Ashley Young, Asmir Begovic and Joao Virginia will be leaving the Club when their contracts expire at the end of next month.
Thank you for your service and good luck for the future, lads. 💙
— Everton (@Everton) May 17, 2025
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His exit was announced in mid-May, with his deal officially expiring at the end of June.
It was an outcome that was rather expected, given Young has just turned 40 years old.
But despite his status as a veteran, Young has said he will not be retiring – and now there is word of a potential new chapter for the player.
Ashley Young could re-sign for Watford after leaving Everton
Ashley Young warming up for Everton.
Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images
Young had two years at Everton, after signing as a free agent following a second spell with Aston Villa.
Everton obviously never had the prime version of Young, which used to frighten the life out of Premier League full-backs back in the day.
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But Everton did get themselves a great professional, who was able to come in and do a job at full-back.
Young made 70 appearances for the club in his two years at Goodison Park, and his signing has been deemed a relative success.
And now, after departing Everton, Young could repeat something he did back in 2021 when he joined Villa again, and re-sign for another of his former clubs in Watford.
Journalist Alex Crook has reported on X this morning: “#WatfordFC are exploring a deal to re-sign Ashley Young.
“Young turned 40 last week but is keen to return and club have no concerns over his age or fitness. Final decision will be that of head coach Paulo Pezzolano.”
What Ashley Young said about Everton exit
So Young could return to Watford, which is where it all began for him after he joined their academy at the age of 10, before leaving in January 2007 to sign for Aston Villa for his first spell there.
It will be something of a fairytale move returning to the club he left 17-and-a-half years ago, and no doubt he will bring a lot to that Hornets’ dressing room.
The potential move comes after Young suggested he actually wanted to stay at Everton. He said: “I’m massively happy. Obviously, I would have wanted to carry on, but it’s one of those things that I look back at the two years.
“I had my doubt, as I’ve said. But I knew what I had to do. I give 100 percent with any club that I come to.”
It was later reported that Young rejected an offer from Everton after the club offered him a deal that included a pay cut.