Why Watford parting ways with Daryl Janmaat is an ideal move
According to the Watford Observer, Watford have confirmed the departure of right-back Daryl Janmaat on a free transfer. The Dutchman made 85 appearances for the Hornets in all competitions following his move to Vicarage Road from Newcastle United back in the summer of 2016, scoring 6 goals in the process.
The 31-year-old has reflected fondly on his time at Watford, revealing that reaching the FA Cup final in the 2018-19 season was the most memorable achievement during his four-year stint with the Hornets. (h/t Watford Observer)
Profile
Daryl Janmaat made more than 200 appearances for ADO Den Haag, Heerenveen, and Feyenoord in his homeland before moving to England with Newcastle United back in the summer of 2014. He featured 77 times for the Magpies in all competitions over two seasons before switching boats to join Watford in 2016 following Newcastle’s relegation to the Championship.
The 31-year-old played a key role for the Hornets during his first two campaigns at Vicarage Road but gradually slipped down the pecking order due to injuries. He started only 7 games in the Premier League last term as the Hornets suffered relegation.
A full international for the Netherlands since 2012, Janmaat has amassed 34 caps and was a part of his nation’s squad that finished third at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Janmaat didn’t seem to have a future at Watford
The Hornets have made a genuine attempt to move on several players this summer in a bid to reduce their wage bills, with Abdoulaye Doucoure, Gerard Deulofeu, and Danny Welbeck among the high-profile names to depart Vicarage Road. And the decision to part ways with Daryl Janmaat represents a continuation of the same policy.
The Dutch international missed large quarters of the previous campaign with a dreadful knee injury and didn’t recover in time during the short pre-season break to force his way into new manager Vladimir Ivic’s plans. Jeremy Ngakia has established himself as the first-choice in that position, with Kiko Femenia shifted to a left-back role.
The 31-year-old’s influence has waned over the years and considering his struggles with injuries, there were serious doubts over whether he would have been able to cope with the long and hard toil of a 46-game season in the Championship.
Read more
Verdict
Make no mistake, Daryl Janmaat was a great servant to Watford and will always be remembered fondly by the fans at Vicarage Road for several memorable displays. His stunning strike against Chelsea in 2018 that was voted the Goal of the Season remains a glowing highlight from his time at the club.
