Ismael Kone: Watford to sign Canada World Cup midfielder from Montreal

Ismael Kone (right) challenges Croatia's Luka Modric at the World Cup in Qatar

Watford have agreed to sign Canada international midfielder Ismael Kone on a four-and-a-half-year contract.

The 20-year-old will move from Montreal on 1 January for an undisclosed fee, having played in all three games for Canada at the ongoing World Cup.

He was born in the Ivory Coast, but his family moved to Canada when he was a child and he now has nine senior caps.

Kone made 32 appearances for Montreal in 2022 as they finished third in North America's Major League Soccer.

He came on as a second-half substitute in each of Canada's group games in Qatar as they were beaten by Belgium, Croatia and Morocco to finish bottom of Group F.

"I think it was in September that my agent spoke to me about the project. I always knew it could be a good second step in my career," he told the Watford website.

"It (the World Cup) was good experience and I'm looking forward to more. As a midfielder, you have to want the ball and not hide, and that's a part of my game that I like."

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