Watford have signed goalkeeper Nathan Baxter on a two-year deal after his contract expired with Bolton Wanderers.

The 26-year-old made 72 appearances in two seasons with the Trotters, including the 2023-24 League One play-off final, after joining from Chelsea in June 2023.

He becomes the second Hornets signing of the summer after former Peterborough midfielder Hector Kyprianou penned a five-year deal.

“I knew about the club’s interest last season and as soon as the season finished they wanted to meet me,” Baxter told the club website, external.

“I had a great conversation with the goalkeeping coach and a great conversation with [Watford sporting director] Gianluca [Nani] and they really sold what they saw in me and where they see my career going.”

Baxter joined Chelsea’s youth system at the age of eight and won the FA Youth Cup and Uefa Youth League during his time at Stamford Bridge.

But he did not make a senior appearance for the Blues after signing a professional contract in 2016.

Instead he was loaned out to seven clubs, latterly Scottish side Ross County, Accrington Stanley and Hull City, where he spent two seasons before joining Bolton.

“I think this is the perfect platform to be able to show people what I can do,” he added.