Crawley Town Football Club is delighted to announce the loan signing of Caleb Watts from Southampton. The 19-year-old joins the Reds until the end of the 2021/22 season.
The young attacking midfielder has been a regular feature in the Saints youth setup this season, scoring once and assisting six goals in 12 starts. One of those assists came against the Reds in the Papa John’s Trophy group stage. Watts’ Saints side defeated Crawley by four goals to nil.
Caleb also brings Premier League experience to the side, as Ralph Hasenhüttl handed Watts his top-flight debut in the 2020/21 season. Watts went on to make two more appearances in the Premier League, and in addition, made his Emirates FA Cup debut in the same season, playing 85 minutes of Southampton’s third-round clash against Shrewsbury.
Watts has also represented Australia at international level. Most recently, Watts travelled to Japan to represent his country at the Tokyo Olympics. The midfielder made three appearances for the Olyroos during their Olympic campaign.
On signing for the Reds, Watts said: “I’m buzzing to be here. I have been looking to get out and get some proper experience in men’s football, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity for me.”
Manager John Yems said: “It’s really good to have Caleb on board with us for the remainder of the season. He offers us another good alternative in the midfield area. I would like to express my gratitude to Southampton for all of their help, and I wish him all the best in a Crawley shirt.”
Chief Executive Erdem Konyar said: "Caleb is a quality addition to the team. Having already featured in the premier league and FA Cup, Caleb is a real coup for the club. We are excited to see him in a Crawley shirt. Under the gaffer’s guidance, we are grateful for the positive collaboration with Southampton."
Caleb has already linked up with the Crawley squad and is available for selection for our trip to Carlisle United on Saturday.
