Tom Dele-Bashiru is eyeing Premier League promotion with Watford after signing a two-year contract with the optimal of a further year.
The 24-year-old Nigerian joined the Hornets from Manchester City’s academy in 2019 and made 38 appearances last season, scoring three goals.
He is just one game short of making 50 appearances for the club, having missed most of the 2020-21 campaign with a serious knee injury, and is now looking ahead to the upcoming season with the hope of helping Watford return to top flight since relegating during the 2021-22 season.
“Last season was probably my best season here, so my goal is to improve on that and keep showing everyone what I am capable of, and hopefully help the team to get promotion.” Tom Dele-Bashiru told the club website.
“For me personally promotion is the goal, and I think we can achieve it.
“It has to be everyone’s goal. We just have to work hard every day and keep improving and working towards that target.”
ℹ️ Tom Dele-Bashiru has put pen to paper on a new contract with the Hornets.
Congratulations, Tom! 💛
— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) July 17, 2024
Dele-Bashiru went ahead to reveal that manager Tom Cleverley played a key part in extending his stay at Vicarage Road.
“A few things influenced me in wanting to stay; Clevs was a big part,” he continued.
“When he came in towards the end of last season he put a lot of confidence and faith in me, and he was very influential, so he played a big part in me wanting to stay.”
He added: “Pre-season is going well. We are still learning the way the manager wants us to play, and his style of play, but the lads are taking everything on board pretty well.
“Some of the patterns of play that the manager wants are starting to come out now in the pre-season games, but there are still things to work on and improve on, so we will keep improving.”
Dele-Bashiru, who is the younger brother of Super Eagles midfielder Fisayo, has been capped for Nigeria at youth level, featuring for the Flying Eagles at 2019 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Poland.
