3/1 To Win
Derby County have completed the deadline day signing of Ikechi Anya from Premier League side Watford.
The 28-year-old Scotland international, who is predominately a winger but can also play at full-back, has penned a four-year deal after an undisclosed fee was agreed for his signature.
Anya featured 33 times for the Hornets last season in their first campaign back in the top flight after playing a key role in promotion to the Premier League in 2014/15.
He becomes the second Hornets player to join Derby inside five days, after striker Matej Vydra arrived for an undisclosed fee last weekend.
Manager Nigel Pearson said: “We’re delighted to get Ikechi Anya here.
“I have met with him this evening and he is certainly a very enthusiastic individual.
“He gives us more balance to the squad and we have someone that is versatile in wide areas. He can play out wide, at full-back or as a wing-back.
“I’m really pleased with the potential that he brings to us.”
Anya, born in Glasgow, began his career at Wycombe Wanderers but was released as 17-year-old.
He had spells in non-league football at Oxford City and Halesowen Town before returning to the professional game in 2009 at Northampton Town, where he scored three times in 14 appearances.
Anya, who also spent time at the Glenn Hoddle Academy in Spain, had spells at Spanish sides Sevilla Atletico, Celta Vigo, Granada and Cadiz during 2011 and 2012.
He played one first team game for Celtic Vigo but was a mainstay in their second team in 2010/11, as well as being a regular at Cadiz in 2011/12 in his loan stint from Granada.
He spent the 2012/13 on loan at Watford, again from Granada, and featured on 29 occasions as the Hornets reached the Play-Off Final, tasting defeat against Crystal Palace.
Anya sealed a permanent switch to Vicarage Road in the summer of 2013 and was a regular during the 2013/14 and 2014/15 seasons, the latter of which resulted in promotion to the Premier League.
He continued to feature regularly in the 2015/16 campaign in the top flight and he started 17 Premier League matches and making a further 11 appearances off the bench.
In total he has made 152 appearances in English club football, scoring on 12 occasions.
On the international stage, he has played 21 times for Scotland since making his debut in 2013. He has scored three goals, with his most memorable coming in a 2-1 loss to World Champions Germany in September 2014. His other goals against Macedonia and the Czech Republic in September 2013 and March 2016 respectively.
