Ince and Mendy among eight released by Watford

Tom Ince is among eight players who will leave Watford when their contracts expire, the club have confirmed.

The 34-year-old winger joined the Hornets in 2023 and made 93 appearances in all competitions, scoring 11 goals including a hat-trick in a 3-0 victory over Birmingham City on New Year's Day.

Watford chief executive Scott Luxton said, external of Ince: "He's been fantastic. He's a really good professional, he's fantastic around the place.

"He gave his all in training and was one of the best trainers we have had, every coach said that to me. He was a really good influence in the changing room and he will be sorely missed.

"They are the kind of characters that you need at the football club. I wish him nothing but the best for the future."

Joining Ince in heading out of Vicarage Road is midfielder Nampalys Mendy, who arrived last summer from West Bromwich Albion on a one-year contract with the option of a further season, but the club have decided against taking that up.

The former Leicester City midfielder and Senegal international, 33, played in 26 games for the club this season.

Also departing are academy players Tobi Adeyemo, Myles Roberts, Hayden Barrett, Ian Kamga, Joshua Keyes and Kristian Shevchenko, while Jonathan Lawson, Roraigh Browne and Conrad Hunt remain in talks about new deals.

Managerless Watford, who finished 16th in the Championship after a run of just two points from their final eight matches which cost Ed Still his job, have awarded one-year contract extensions to Edo Kayembe, Tom Dele-Bashiru and Jack Grieves.