Lithuanian International Goalkeeper Signs For Watford.
Watford have completed their second signing of the summer transfer window, with 27 year old Lithuanian international goalkeeper Giedrius Arlauskis joining on a free transfer.
The Hornets have been linked with the goalkeeper for some time now, and it was reported last month that Arlauskis was set to join the Golden Boys ahead of their return to the Premier League for the first time in eight seasons.
The 6ft 3 stopper, has played in the Champions League and Europa League competitions with the likes of Steaua Bucharest, Rubin Kazan and Unirea Urziceni, and he joins with a wealth of experience under his belt.
The 27 year old currently has also been capped at international level by Lithuania, and he represented his country against England earlier this year at Wembley.
Arlauskis started his career in his native Lithuania with Šiauliai, before he joined Romanian outfit Unirea Urziceni. During his time with Urziceni, Arlauskis won the Liga 1, which is Romania’s top division. He made 67 appearances for Urziceni in three seasons in Romania, before he joined Rubin Kazan.
At Kazan, Arlauskis was mainly used as a back-up to the Russian outfit’s number 1, however he did turn out for Kazan during some of their European exploits.
He left Rubin Kazan ahead of the 2014/15 season, and joined Steaua Bucharest in Romania on a one-year-deal. Arlauskis was number one for the Romanian side, making 40 appearances during the 2014/15 season, as Steaua won the Liga 1, Romanian Cup and the Romanian League Cup. He also appeared for Steaua Bucharest during the Champions League Play Off’s as well as in the Europa League this season.
However, despite a successful season in Romania, Arlauskis rejected the offer of a new contract, and left the club on a free transfer at the end of the season, and the Hornets have acted quickly to snap the keeper up.
There is no mention of contract length on the official website, so it remains to be seen how long Arlauskis will be with the Hornets.
It is thought that the Lithuanian has been drafted in to provide competition for current number 1 Heurelho Gomes, with the Hornets featuring in the Premier League for the first time in seven seasons.
Arlauskis could prove to be a good addition to the Watford squad, and seems to be capable of stepping in to the number 1 position should Heurelho Gomes be ruled out through injury, especially with all of his experience in Europe. The 27 year old should provide stiff competition for Gomes in order to keep him on his toes, and this move could now see Jonathan Bond move out on loan to a Championship side to gain some more first team experience, with the Under 21 international looking to prove to the Hornets hierarchy that he is ready to be the clubs new number 1 in seasons to come.
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