Watford Women sign midfielder Coral-Jade Haines

Watford have signed midfielder Coral-Jade Haines from Crystal Palace ahead of their return to the Barclays Women’s Championship.

The 27-year-old spent three seasons at Palace, helping them to a fifth-place finish in the second tier last term and scoring 15 goals in 59 league appearances during her time with the Eagles.

The former England U-19 international played in the WSL and Champions League for Birmingham City, before helping Spurs gain promotion to the top fli

Haines left former club Crystal Palace earlier this summer upon the expiry of her contract with the South Londoners. The midfielder spent three years with The Eagles in which she made 59 appearances for the club in the Barclays Women’s Championship. Haines netted 15 league goals for Crystal Palace while she provided numerous assists.

The 27-year-old has previously played at the top level during her time at Birmingham City while she was a Barclays Women’s Championship promotion-winner with Tottenham Hotspur in 2018/2019. She made 18 appearances for Spurs in that campaign as they ended the season as runners-up to Manchester United.

Haines becomes Watford manager Damon Lathrope’s second signing of the summer transfer window. The Hertfordshire club have also acquired the services of former London City Lionesses captain Harley Bennett this summer. Watford’s two new signings join 12 players who have been retained by the club following their promotion from the FA Women’s National League last season.

Watford begin their first season back in the Barclays Women’s Championship with a home fixture against Durham next month.