Midfielder Hector Kyprianou is expected to be the first new Watford signing of this summer.

The Watford Observer understands the transfer of the 23-year-old Cyprus international could be announced as early as tomorrow (Friday).

His contract at League One Peterborough United runs out at the end of June, and Kyprianou has made no secret of the fact that he will be leaving London Road.

And because he will turn 24 before his United deal expires, Peterborough will not be entitled to any compensation for Kyprianou's services, meaning Watford will land a complete free transfer.

“I have no doubt Posh will be successful again very soon, but I felt it was time to move on,” he told the club’s Posh Plus service this week.

“I said on day one I was ambitious so I had to take this opportunity. I’ve never been motivated by money and never will be.”

He is a player that has been on the Hornets’ radar for some time: in each of the last three transfer windows there have been unsuccessful attempts to bring him to Vicarage Road.

The Enfield-born 23-year-old began his career in the Academy system at Tottenham before moving across London to Leyton Orient and played for their Under-18s.

He gained experience via a number of work experience loans, firstly a month with Harlow Town, then a longer spell with Bishops Stortford where he made 21 first-team appearances, and finally played just one game for Hampton and Richmond Borough.

His first taste of international football came when he was picked to play for Cyprus Under-19s and went on to earn six caps, and a further three for the Under-21s.

Kyprianou made his senior debut for Orient in an EFL trophy game against Brighton Under-21s in November 2019.

The 19/20 season saw the midfielder amass eight outings for the east London side, and then he chalked up 25 the following campaign as well as his first goal, which came in an FA Cup tie against Newport County.

He really made his breakthrough in 21/22, making 46 outings and playing in 38 of the O’s 46 League Two games, and that attracted the attention of League One Peterborough United, who paid Orient a reported £400,000 for his services.

In his first season he registered another 46 senior outings and also scored three league goals, before following up in 23/24 with a further 54 first-team appearances, scoring eight goals in the process.

Last summer Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson named Kyprianou as his captain, and after missing the first two games of the season with a fractured wrist he went on to make 40 appearances and score five goals.

One of those five came in the final of the Vertu Trophy at Wembley in April when Peterborough beat Birmingham 2-0, retaining the trophy they had won 12 months earlier.

 

"That was the best day of my life,” Kyprianou admitted

“To win that game with this group of players, as big underdogs, to score a goal, to captain the side and then celebrate with our amazing fans afterwards... well you just can’t top that.

"To win it the year before was amazing as well, especially with one of the best teams Posh has ever had, but then the entire three years here has been special.

“If you’d have told me when I walked through the door for the first time that I’d experience so many good times I'd have snapped your hand off. I'd have laughed at you if you’d have said I’d become captain.

“It’s been far better than I’d dared dream.”

Kyprianou made his senior debut for Cyprus in a 4-0 defeat to Norway in October 2023 in a Euro 24 qualifier, and now has 10 full caps – the most recent was in a 4-0 Nations League win over Kosovo in September.