Watford captain Troy Deeney has signed a new five-year contract at Vicarage Road.

Having rejected a £25 million offer from Premier League champions Leicester City, the Hornets offered their skipper and talisman a new deal and were confident he would remain at the club. Those hopes have proved well founded following discussions between Deeney, his agent Simon Kennedy and chief executive Scott Duxbury.

“This club really means business and I want to be part of this,” Deeney told the Hornets website.

“I’ve listened carefully to everything the club has had to say to me recently.

“We’ve talked things through in a sensible way – and it’s helped me fully deal with lots of my own thoughts.

“When you’re right in the middle of something, maybe you take it for granted how quickly things are moving forward. I don’t think I’ve done that; but by talking it over it’s clear that Watford isn’t ever going to settle for second-best – and that’s how I want to feel about my career so it works for me.”

The Hornets skipper has tweeted the following message and picture. 

Duxbury told the club website: “It’s been important to have considered discussions.

“Views have been shared and debated and there has always been a healthy dialogue between myself, Troy and his agent.

“Making big decisions is part of the accountability that comes with running a football club, and I’m aware of that.

“But for a player it’s perhaps even more crucial, because it’s about defining the future for you and your family, both professionally and personally.

“I have total respect for the time and diligence Troy has shown in coming to the conclusion he has.”

Deeney, who celebrated his 28th birthday this week, signed an improved five-year deal last summer, but the Hornets have consistently maintained the striker is not for sale due to his value that stretches far beyond what he does on the pitch.

The striker, who is already the only player in the club's history to score 20 goals in three consecutive seasons, needs just four more goals to join Luther Blissett, Tommy Barnett, Ross Jenkins and Cliff Holton in netting a century for the club.

Today is officially Walter Mazzarri's first day as Watford's new head coach and the players return for pre-season training on Monday.