Algerian defender Essaïd Belkalem is set to become Watford’s 16th summer signing according to Udinese’s sporting director.

The Italian club signed the 24-year-old this summer on a free transfer after his contract with Algerian side JS Kabylie expired.

Belkalem has been linked with a move to the Hornets at different times this summer and the switch was confirmed by Udinese’s sporting director Cristiano Giaretta this afternoon.

Belkalem is a defender who has played 11 times for Algeria having previously represented his country’s Under-23 and Under-20 sides.

The 6ft 2in centre back missed the majority of 2011 through injury but played 22 league matches for JS Kabylie last season, scoring two goals in the process.

Physical and strong in the air, in 2009 Algerian football website DZfoot.com voted the then 20-year-old Belkalem as the third best young player in the Algerian Championnat National; describing him as “a solid defender – disciplined and reassuring”.

Belkalem would become Watford’s 16th summer signing should he join after the club confirmed the transfer of 12 players in the last week.

Almen Abdi (2016), Cristian Battocchio (2016), Gabriele Angella (2018) and Diego Fabbrini (2017) were confirmed on Friday and Marco Cassetti (2014), Daniel Pudil (2016), Javier Acuna (2016), Marco Davide Faraoni (2018), Ikechi Anya (2016) and ex-Manchester United defender Reece Brown (2015) on Monday.

Joel Ekstrand (2016) and Iriney (2015) were finalised on Wednesday so the only potential signing whose immediate future is currently uncertain is Jaime Romero. Read more about Romero's future here.