Watford have confirmed the loan signing of in-demand Manchester United midfielder James Garner.
The highly-rated 19-year-old has been the subject of interest from a string of Championship clubs this season and United were keen for him to be handed more first-team experience.
And it was revealed on Friday that Garner has now put pen to paper for a one-year stint at promotion-chasing Watford.
Garner is a product of the youth academy at Old Trafford, and it was recently announced that he had been named their U23s Payer of the Year for the previous campaign.
His first-team debut came against Crystal Palace last February, and a contract extension until June 2022 with the option of a further year soon followed.
Despite his breakthrough, United were actively attempting to secure him a temporary move this summer.
The youngster was not short of suitors from the second tier, but Vladimir Ivic has won the race to strengthen his side's hopes of bouncing straight back up.
United U23s boss Neil Wood told the Manchester Evening News earlier this summer that Garner's development would be boosted by a loan.
The talented star, capped at youth level for England, netted nine goals for the club's reserve side last season and regularly wore the captain's armband.
Garner will compete with the likes of Will Hughes and Nathaniel Chalobah to start in the centre of Watford's midfield.
Sportsmail has previously reported how Huddersfield were one of the clubs who monitored Garner's progress with a view to a potential loan swoop.
The club took the opportunity to check on him during a clash between their respective U23 sides but cooled their interest after considering other targets.
KingJerryTheGreat
242
As soon as I saw James, I was ready to start bidding farewell to Daniel James but then actually realized it's James Garner....
Mbappe2
229
Success James and don't let kabasele train you tackling, you shall always be carded.
Pgaius
223
Whats wrong with all United fans making noise that the club isn't signing but letting player go. We all know that clubs are always unfair to united in the transfer window. We are to big a club to develop a player and then lose him because of a buy back clause(as for Reguilion), why would we sign a player that comes to a club and creates too many liabilities because of his wages and we not sure if he still knows how to even kick the ball(as for bale). We have many defenders, one of the best midfielders and an average forward line that can get u the goals. who saw salah, mane amd firmino becoming the best forward line in premier league. so lets let the coach do his job and see how everything goes.