Ben Wilmot: Stoke City sign Watford centre-back on four-year deal

Ben Wilmot started the first two matches of Xisco's managerial reign, but was limited to the bench thereafter

Stoke City have signed Watford and England under-21 centre-back Ben Wilmot for an undisclosed fee.

Wilmot, 21, who can also play in midfield, has agreed a four-year deal with the Potters.

He played 25 times in Watford's promotion-winning Championship campaign last season, but only made two starts after Xisco was appointed head coach.

"I've no doubts he will be an excellent addition to our squad," Stoke manager Michael O'Neill said.

"Ben is a young player of enormous potential, who already has great experience of Championship football.

"I know he was attracting interest from a number of other clubs and we're really pleased to have made him our first signing of the summer."

Stoke sold fellow centre-back Nathan Collins, 20, to Premier League side Burnley earlier on Thursday.

Wilmot began his career with Stevenage before joining Watford in 2018 and was loaned to Udinese and Swansea City while at Vicarage Road.

He was a member of the England under-21 squad at the European Championships earlier this year.

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