Highlights

• Ismaila Sarr made a lasting impression at Watford; his incredible goal at the Hawthorns was a standout moment for Hornets fans.
• Sarr’s technical ability was evident as he scored from over 50 yards, showing why he was so highly rated during his time at Watford.
• The Senegalese striker caused major problems for EFL defenders and delighted Watford fans with a total of 33 goals in 118 appearances before moving to Marseille.

During his four years at Vicarage Road, Ismaila Sarr gave Watford fans many fond memories, but one moment in particular will stick out in the minds of Hornets fans.

The Senegalese striker had a habit of producing moments of magic out of nowhere during his time in Hertfordshire and his first appearance in England after moving from Rennes was peppered with a series of stunning goals.

No goal was more iconic than his eye-catching effort at the Hawthorns in August 2022, when he graced the EFL again following Watford’s relegation from the Premier League.

The frontman only needed two games in the second division to attract attention: after just twelve minutes of play, a goal from his own half of the pitch silenced the home fans.

Magical moment for Ismaila Sarr in the duel between Watford and West Bromwich Albion

Picture the scene: It’s the Baggies’ first home game of the 22/23 season and the crowds at Hawthorns Stadium are abuzz with anticipation, looking forward to seeing their team put in a strong performance when Watford come to town.

That’s how it is with matches at the start of the season: Both teams put pressure on each other, there are no significant goal chances in the first ten minutes and when Craig Cathcart clears a ball with his head towards the halfway line, the game seems to lack pace.

But then Ismaila Sarr steps forward, who obviously has other plans: He confidently takes the high ball, takes it out of the air and shoots at the goal from over 45 meters away, while David Button is standing in no man’s land.

Time almost seems to stand still as the goalkeeper makes his mental decisions, sees the ball coming towards him, starts moving, realises his attempt is futile, and watches the ball fly past him and into the unguarded net, sending the away fans at the other end of the pitch into ecstasy.

The vision, the awareness, the technical ability: all of this summed up Sarr’s time in a Watford shirt. His moment of brilliance lit up the stage and underlined why he was so highly valued during his time at the club.

It was a real pleasure to have him at his disposal for a season in the Championship as he gave EFL defenders a lifetime of trouble, scoring ten goals for the Hornets before moving to Marseille the following summer.

Ismaila Sarr’s Watford legacy

Watford are said to have paid £27 million for Sarr when he moved from Rennes in the summer of 2019, and expectations were high when he joined the Hertfordshire team.

The Senegalese was brilliant in his first season, but was also a disappointment. His exuberance in attack was often hampered by his inability in front of goal. In his first season for the club, he only managed five goals and four assists.

A goal against Manchester United and a brace against Liverpool were undoubtedly the highlights of those first twelve months, in which he was there precisely when his team needed him most.

As he did at Watford, Sarr constantly bounced between League One and League Two and did his best work helping the Hornets return to the Premier League, contributing 17 goals in the 2020/21 season.

But no moment was more beautiful than that one at Hawthorns, when the entire home crowd was speechless at the magic that was unfolding before them.

In time, Albion supporters will be able to appreciate exactly what they saw before their eyes that day in the Black Country, when one of the Football League’s most exciting players demonstrated his class in magnificent fashion.