Watford Sign Former Celtic Striker Saoirse Noonan on Free Transfer

Watford have moved decisively in the market, securing the signing of former Celtic forward Saoirse Noonan on a free transfer, adding serious firepower to their attack ahead of the new season.

The club confirmed the deal on their official website, announcing the arrival of a player who has spent the last two years terrorising defences in Scotland.

At 27, Noonan arrives at Watford in her prime. She left Celtic earlier this summer at the end of her contract with the Glasgow club, walking away with a scoring record that underlines exactly why the Golden Girls have made their move.

A ruthless spell at Celtic

Noonan’s numbers at Celtic are striking.

• Fifty-seven goals in 74 appearances.
• Five hat-tricks in two seasons.
• Top scorer in back-to-back campaigns.

She did not just pad her stats in routine league wins. Her time in Glasgow brought silverware and European experience. Noonan lifted the Scottish Gas Women’s Scottish Cup last season and featured in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, adding big-game minutes to her résumé and proving she can operate on a larger stage.

That combination of volume, consistency, and big-occasion exposure is what will excite Watford most. This is not a speculative signing. It is a proven finisher stepping into a new challenge.

From Cork to Watford via Durham and Shelbourne

Noonan’s journey to Vicarage Road has been steady rather than sudden.

She began her career in the SSE Airtricity League Women’s Premier Division with Cork City, where her talent first drew wider attention. From there, she moved to Shelbourne, enjoying two separate spells with the Dublin club and sharpening the all-round game that now defines her.

England is not new territory either. Noonan has already experienced the demands of the English game with a two-year stint at Durham in the Barclays WSL2, a grounding that should ease her transition back into the league and into Watford’s system.

International pedigree

On the international stage, Noonan has represented the Republic of Ireland 14 times, scoring two goals. Those caps speak to a player trusted at the highest level, comfortable with tactical demands and pressure situations.

For Watford, that international experience adds another layer of assurance. They are not just signing a domestic scorer; they are adding a forward who understands different styles, different tempos, and the expectation that comes with wearing a national shirt.

Statement signing in a busy window

Noonan becomes Watford’s fourth signing of the summer window, another piece in what is starting to look like a deliberate and ambitious rebuild.

Quality has been the theme of their business so far, and this deal fits that pattern. With a ruthless record in Scotland, prior experience in the English game, and a growing international profile, Saoirse Noonan arrives not as a gamble, but as a statement.

Now the question is simple: how quickly can Watford turn her goals into momentum?