West Ham sign Irish teenager

West Ham have signed Republic of Ireland Under-19 striker Sean Maguire from Waterford United on a two-and-a-half-year contract.



The 18-year-old finished joint top scorer in the League of Ireland First Division in 2012, helping Waterford to gain promotion as runners-up.



Maguire, who scored 13 goals in 24 appearances, told West Ham TV: "In summer 2011 the Waterford manager brought me in for a couple of training sessions and gave me a chance in the first team and I took it. Here I am now at West Ham and it's a dream come true really."



He added: "People tend to say my best trait is my movement so hopefully I can show that here. I haven't been told yet which squad I will be in but I presume I'll be going into the reserves so I'll try to work my way up like I did at Waterford."

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Almunia joins Gianfranco Zola at Watford

Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has joined Championship side Watford, Arsenal have announced.

Almunia is one of seven new signings made by manager Gianfranco Zola and joins the London club on a one-year deal.

"Former Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has signed for Watford," the Premier League club confirmed.

"The 35-year-old was released by the club this summer but will be training next door to his former team-mates in London Colney after agreeing a one-year deal with the Championship side."

Almunia played 175 games for Arsenal including a substitute appearance in the 2006 Champions League final against Barcelona, but lost the jersey to Pole Wojciech Szczesny.

Watford were recently taken over by the Pozzo family who own Italian Serie A club Udinese and Spanish La Liga club Granada.

Other new arrivals include QPR defender Fitz Hall and several loan acquisitions from the fellow Pozzo family stable of clubs.



Almen Abdi, Matej Vydra and Steve Leo Beleck joined from Udinese on-loan as have Granada pair Daniel Pudil and Ikechi Anya.

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Zola appointed as Watford boss

Former West Ham United boss Gianfranco Zola has been confirmed as the new manager of Watford.



Zola has signed a two-year deal at the Championship club after the Hornets' new owners, the Italian Pozzo family, confirmed the sacking of Sean Dyche on Friday.



"Everyone knows how Gianfranco Zola likes football to be played," Watford technical director Gianluca Nani said.



"I think Watford's fans can expect an exciting and attacking style from his team. Gianfranco represents this project perfectly."



The appointment of Zola had been expected since the Pozzo family, who completed their takeover of the club from Laurence Bassini last week, revealed the 46-year-old Italian was their preferred candidate.



The Pozzo family also own Serie A side Udinese and La Liga outfit Granada.



Former Chelsea player Zola, who spent seven years at Stamford Bridge, had two seasons in charge of West Ham, impressing in the first as he led the club to ninth place in the Premier League in the 2008/09 season.



He struggled badly the following campaign, though, as his side finished just one place above the bottom three and he left his post two days after the end of the season.

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