Watford have announced the signing of academy player Scott Holding from Stockport County.

The youngster has signed a two-year deal with the option of a third.

Holding recently captained County's Under 23s side and has also previously been on the books of Manchester United.

He has already played at Vicarage Road, where he completed 90 minutes as a trialist as the U23s beat Wigan earlier this year.

In a post on his Twitter account, Holding said: "Delighted to announce I’ve signed for

@WatfordFCAcad can’t wait to get started. Thank you @StockportCounty for the opportunity’s and lastly to the amazing fans at the club."

Holding's arrival comes after a recent supporter committee meeting where the club discussed the importance of improving their academy, saying it was "an area where shortcomings were readily acknowledged".

Watford also stated that the academy leadership team of Richard Johnson and Jimmy Gilligan are now meeting directly with club chiefs and "having a far greater voice and influence as to which players are genuine contenders and should be part of first-team squads in future seasons".

In the notes published from the first committee meeting, the club said: "Players need to believe they can actually play if they stay here. If the pathway isn’t clear enough, then players understandably take financial reward elsewhere, with no better guarantee of senior involvement."