Watford are heading into the Championship season with the help of a Man City starlet who has earned high acclaim from one of the greatest managers of all time.
After Watford appointed Paulo Pezzolano this summer, the new boss wasted little time building the Hornets squad in his image ahead of the 2025/26 Championship campaign.
Watford signed Nestory Irankunda from Bayern Munich this summer, as well as completing deals for the likes of Hector Kyprianou and Marc Bola earlier in the window.
However, the Hornets’ summer window has been marred by transfer blows, after Ashley Young chose Ipswich Town over a return to his former club and Pape Diallo snubbed Watford for Norwich City.
Now the transfer tide is turning at Vicarage Road with the imminent arrival of a Manchester City starlet on loan, who Pep Guardiola has lofty acclaim for.
Max Alleyne of Manchester City FC during the UEFA Youth League match between AZ Alkmaar and Manchester City
Photo by ANP via Getty Images
Watford set to sign Manchester City defender Max Alleyne on loan
Watford have lost several central defenders this summer, including Francisco Sierralta, Ryan Porteous and Antonio Tikvic.
Therefore, recruits at centre-back will have been high on the list of priorities for Pezzolano this summer.
Now, the Hornets are poised to sign Manchester City defender Max Alleyne on loan for the 2025/26 Championship campaign.
Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph revealed on X: “Watford are close to agreeing a deal to sign Manchester City centre-back Max Alleyne.
“It’s understood WFC are seeking a season-long loan deal for the 20yo.
UPDATE: Watford are close to agreeing a deal to sign Manchester City centre-back Max Alleyne.
It’s understood #WFC are seeking a season-long loan deal for the 20yo. #MCFC are also in talks with Alleyne to extend his contract, before going out on loan.
(w/@LucaBendoni) https://t.co/YXzpNKa9gI
— Anthony Joseph (@AnthonyRJoseph) August 5, 2025
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“MCFC are also in talks with Alleyne to extend his contract, before going out on loan.”
20-year-old Alleyne played 23 times for Man City’s academy last season, scoring one goal and registering three assists from centre-back.
Pep Guardiola pictured in Fulham FC v Manchester City FC - Premier League
Photo by Michael Driver | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
What Man City boss Pep Guardiola has said about Max Alleyne
In the 2023/24 season, Alleyne was robbed of a dream senior debut against Red Star Belgrade in a game that City won 3-2.
City had five academy graduates on the pitch, and it would have been six with the introduction of Alleyne, but Guardiola decided against it with the threat of a comeback.
Despite that, his comments about Alleyne will be music to the ears of Watford supporters and Pezzolano.
As quoted by the Manchester Evening News, Guardiola said in December 2023: “Congratulations to the academy for the last years, how many players came up, how many players we sold to the Premier League and Championship, and even more.
“It’s not easy to give opportunities in that level because in big clubs people don’t wait but the situation we had was really good.
“At the end I wanted to put Max on as a central defender because he has a special quality with the ball but the game was not quite under control but it’s a big compliment for all the academy for many years.”