Watford signs goalkeeper Pantilimon; Naismith joins Norwich

New Watford goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon said that his recent switch to the Hornets for an undisclosed fee was the “right choice” after leaving Sunderland this week.

Goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon has completed his move from Sunderland to Watford while Ricky Alvarez has also officially left.

He featured in 18 matches for the Black Cats this season but fell out of favour after a 3-1 defeat at Chelsea in December, with Jordan Pickford and Vito Mannone moving up the pecking order.

Pantilimon arrived at Sunderland on a Bosman deal in the summer of 2014 and impressed in his maiden campaign at the Stadium of Light last season, even if his form dipped this time around.

The 28-year-old ha signed a three-and-a-half year deal at Vicarage Road to become the club’s second signing in two days following the arrival of Nordin Amrabat from Malaga.

Big Sam has gambled by selling the Romanian worldwide to a potential relegation rival, after Watford’s fourth consecutive Premier League defeat at Swansea on Monday night.

He had previously spent three years at Manchester City for who he made 29 appearances after joining them for £3m from Romanian side Politehnica Timisoara.

Pantilimon added: “He’s a very good keeper, I know him from when we played against Watford, and he is a very nice guy”.