Watford signed midfielder Pierre Ekwah from AS Saint-Étienne on transfer deadline day. At AS Saint-Étienne, the player had been in a dispute and was not training with the first team. Watford signed the 24-year-old despite competition from another Championship club, Leicester City, and Spanish club Levante. The Frenchman, who also holds Ghanaian nationality, has been capped five times by France at the U20 level. The deal is an initial loan for the remainder of the season, and the agreement includes an option for Watford to make the move permanent for a €7.5m fee. AS Saint-Étienne had signed Ekwah from Sunderland in August 2025 for a fee reported to be around €6-7 million. His current market value is estimated by Transfermarkt at €3.00m.