Report: Udinese to send Bravo, Zemura and Payero to Watford
Quick summary
Reports from Italy suggest Udinese are set to transfer three players—Bravo, Zemura, and Payero—to English Championship side Watford, both clubs owned by the Pozzo family.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceSky Sport Italia claim Udinese are working on a triple deal with Watford, handing over Iker Bravo, Jordan Zemura and possibly also Martin Payero.
There has long been a strong bond between the two clubs, who were for a while both owned by the Pozzo family.
This allowed for them to use each other as feeder clubs, regularly swapping players on loan or in permanent transfers.
Although the Pozzo family sold Watford, they are still in close contact, and seem to be working on a triple exchange.
Udinese ready to hand over trio GENOA, ITALY – APRIL 04: Iker Bravo of Udinese is challenged by Morten Frendrup and Stefano Sabelli of Genoa during the Serie A match between Genoa and Udinese at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on April 04, 2025 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images) Sky Sport Italia report that Iker Bravo will join Watford on a permanent transfer, as the 21-year-old striker returned from a loan experience with Las Palmas.
He spent time in the Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen youth academies before joining Udinese for €600,000 in the summer of 2024.
Bravo made 41 appearances for the Friulani, scoring four goals with one assist.
BOLOGNA, ITALY – DECEMBER 01: Martin Payero of Cremonese celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and US Cremonese at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on December 01, 2025 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) Left-back Zemura is also widely expected to come to Watford, as the 26-year-old is into the final months of his contract, having arrived as a free agent from Bournemouth in 2023.
These deals are close to completion, but a third is in the negotiation process, with 27-year-old Argentina international Payero also on the Watford agenda.
The midfielder spent last season on loan with Cremonese and came to Udinese from Middlesbrough in 2023.
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What happened
According to Italian reports, Udinese are preparing to send three players to Watford, who are currently in the English Championship. The trio of Bravo, Zemura, and Payero are reportedly headed to Vicarage Road. The move is facilitated by the common ownership of both clubs by the Pozzo family, which has historically enabled player exchanges between Udinese, Watford, and their other entities. If confirmed, the transfers would give Watford additional squad depth while freeing up space in Udinese's roster.
Chance analysis
These inter-club transfers between sister clubs are common in the Pozzo ownership network. For Watford, acquiring players already accustomed to Italian football tactical systems could provide a smoother integration. For Udinese, offloading squad players frees wages and roster spots for new acquisitions. The move is routine within this ownership structure but provides Watford with experienced additions ahead of their Championship campaign.
Watford gain three experienced players on the eve of the Championship season; Udinese lose squad depth in defense and midfield.
If confirmed, expect Watford to gain midfield and defensive reinforcement for their Championship push, while Udinese's squad depth in those areas decreases.