Watford have added to their squad ahead of the first game of the new season on Saturday by confirming the signing of Georgian international midfielder Giorgi Chakvetadze.

As we reported last week, the 23-year-old has joined the Hornets on a season-long loan from KAA Gent, with an option to make the move permanent.

Rumours of the deal first emerged even earlier last month, after pictures of the Georgian in Watford training kit appeared online.

However, they came via a contact of the player having been seemingly grabbed during a video call.

When the transfer wasn't announced, fans began to worry that it wasn't going to happen at all.

However, the length of time to complete the paperwork and requirements involved in signing overseas players has increased significantly, particularly since Brexit.

The biggest delay can occur in the points-based Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) Criteria, administered by the FA, which dictates if an international player can be given a visa.

A process that used to be able to be completed in five working days can now take three times as long, hence what appeared to be a prolonged gap between the pictures of Chakvetadze and today's confirmation.

Chakvetadze, who can play as a left winger or attacking midfielder, is available for the first game of the new campaign against QPR at Vicarage Road on Saturday.

Having come through the youth tanks at Dinamo Tbilisi, Chakvetadze made his professional as a 17-year-old and scored five goals in 26 appearances in his first season.

He moved to the Belgian side KAA Gent and, after being eased into the first-team picture in his first season, he made 27 appearances in 2018/19, scoring six times.

Knee injuries halted his progress for much of the next two campaigns and he then saw his opportunities limited at Gent, which led to him moving on loan to Germany to join SV Hamburger in January 2022.

Chakvetadze spent last season on loan at Slovan Bratislava, helping them to win the Slovakian league title. He also played in eight Europa Conference League ties after failing to get through qualifying for the Champions League and Europa League.

Capped at all age groups from Under-16 to senior level by Georgia, Chakvetadze has been capped 16 times and scored seven international goals.