Watford: Midfielders Matheus Martins and Leandro Bacuna join Championship side

Matheus Martins (left) is a Brazil Under-20 international, while Netherlands-born Leandro Bacuna plays internationally for Curacao

Watford have signed midfielders Matheus Martins and Leandro Bacuna.

Curacao international Bacuna, 31, has signed until the end of the season after leaving Cardiff City in July.

Brazilian Martins, 19, was linked with a move from Fluminense to Udinese, the Italian side that the Hornets' owners - the Pozzo family - also control.

A loan move to Watford had been expected but when contacted, the club would not confirm the terms of Martins' arrival or who he has joined from.

Fluminense confirmed Martins' departure but did not state the name of the club the Brazil Under-20 international had joined.

Watford have said winger Martins, who featured 51 times for Fluminense and scored six goals for the Brazilian top-flight side, is already training with Slaven Bilic's side and will complete his registration with the Championship club when the transfer window opens in January.

Former Groningen, Aston Villa and Reading midfielder Bacuna is available to face Huddersfield on Saturday having joined as a free agent.

He joins a Hornets midfield beset by injuries, with Hamza Choudhury the latest player to enter the club's treatment room after he limped off in Sunday's draw with Hull.

Tom Dele-Bashiru, who made his first start of the season against the Tigers after returning from a series of knee problems, is Watford's only fit senior central midfielder, with Imran Louza, Tom Cleverley and Dan Gosling all out with long-term issues and Edo Kayembe sidelined for around five weeks with a calf injury.

However, Canadian international Ismael Kone will be available to play from 1 January, after signing for the Vicarage Road club last week.

Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.