Randell Williams has become the latest Watford Under-23 player to move this month, making a permanent switch to Exeter City.

The winger joined the Hornets as a free agent at the start of the 2017/18 season, having been at Crystal Palace, but the majority of his time at Vicarage Road was spent on loan at Wycombe Wanderers.

The 22-year-old had reportedly attracted interest from Championship clubs Bristol City and Brentford as well as League One leaders Portsmouth, but has returned to League Two to join the Grecians.

“I am very pleased to have joined,” Williams told the Exeter website. “I know about the club and I am just happy to be here.

“I know how the club develops players. They are really good at it. They have sold quite a lot of players in recent years to top clubs so it is a great place to come and develop and I also know that they are fighting for promotion as well and I would love to be a part of that.”

Manager Matt Taylor said: “He comes with a good pedigree. We were close to signing him in the summer, really close.

“I just missed out then, so I am delighted to secure his services. He is the winger on the left side that we have been looking for the last few months, especially with Chieo (Chiedozie Ogbene) going back to Brentford.

“And the fact that we have got him on a permanent deal, I am delighted with because we can invest in him and develop him.

“He is going to be one of our own for the next two and a half seasons and hopefully we can see his progression and develop him as a player but also bring us success on the pitch.

“We are pleased that there is no fee involved, but if he were to leave at some stage down the line during his contract then there would be a percentage of that that goes back to Watford.”

The 22-year-old made six league appearances for the Chairboys last season, having joined them on loan in January 2018, to help them to promotion from League Two.

Williams then returned to Adams Park at the start of the current campaign and made a total of 23 appearances in all competitions for Gareth Ainsworth’s side, scoring twice.

Williams follows Dion Pereira in making a permanent move this week, while fellow Under-23 players Sam Howes and Andrew Eleftheriou left on loan earlier in January.