Canadian midfielder Ismael Kone is set to join Championship side Watford from CF Montreal this winter, 90min sources confirm.

The 20-year-old is regarded as one of the most promising talents in Major League Soccer right now after a breakout 2022 campaign, helping Montreal finish second in the Eastern Conference and featuring in the CanMNT’s World Cup campaign.

As reported by 90min, Kone had already come close to joining Norwich City earlier in the year, only to see a deal fall through due to financial disagreements between the two clubs.

But interest in the player has not gone away. First reported by Fabrizio Romano, 90min understands Watford have won the race to sign Kone, with the player already undergoing a successful medical and penning a long-term contract. CF Montreal will net a club-record fee for the transfer of Kone.

The transfer is a big win for Watford, with the Hornets securing Kone’s future even in the face of serious interest from across Europe’s top five leagues, clubs from the Netherlands, and fellow Championship teams.

Kone has played 32 times for CF Montreal, scoring four goals and providing five assists, while he has eight senior caps for Canada.

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