Watford have secured first-year scholar Gavin Massey on a professional deal after interest from a number of clubs including Liverpool.

Massey has been attracting interest from Premier League clubs in recent months so the Hornets decided to snap him up on a two-year contract.

The 17-year-old was catapulted into the first team on the last day of the season as he came on as a substitute in the 4-0 victory over Coventry City.

Massey was part of the initial group of players which joined the Harefield Academy in 2007.

The Watford-born striker was at the specialist sports school for two years before becoming a scholar last summer and was part of the Harefield side which lifted the English Schools' Under-15s Cup in 2008.

Massey is expected to be involved with the first team more next season but will still continue his education at the Academy and finish his scholarship.