“It destroyed me” – Player explains Watford legal case; ‘everything fell apart’ when contract checked.

Midfielder Pape Gueye has finally spoken out about the legal dispute that saw him locked in a lengthy battle with Watford, explaining how a contract he never properly checked led to one of the most difficult periods of his career.

Currently playing for Villarreal, the 25-year-old discussed his career on the Oui Hustle podcast, shedding light on the confusing saga that saw him sign a pre-contract agreement with Watford in April 2020, only to join Marseille a day later—an action that resulted in a legal battle and a four-month suspension from football.

Watford announcement, Marseille move, and legal case

Back in April 2020, Watford officially announced Gueye’s signing, sharing photos of the player with the club’s shirt. However, just 24 hours later, the midfielder claimed he had been scammed by his agent, arguing that his contract was not valid and that he had been misled about its terms.

Instead of heading to England, Gueye signed for Marseille, setting off a high-profile case that reached the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Ultimately, Watford won the dispute, receiving £2.3 million in compensation, while Marseille were banned from two transfer windows and Gueye himself was handed a four-month suspension.

Now, Gueye has finally provided a detailed account of how everything unraveled, describing the mental toll it took on him.

Gueye: “It destroyed me”

The midfielder explained that as his contract with Le Havre neared its end, his intention was always to stay in France.

“I didn’t speak English, Spanish, or Italian. For me, the next logical step was to stay in France,” he recalled.

However, his agent convinced him that Watford were the only serious offer available and assured him that he would have a smooth transition, despite the language barrier.

Gueye then described the moment that changed everything—when he finally had his contract reviewed after signing.

“I was alone when I signed it. My father wasn’t there. I trusted my agent and didn’t have the contract checked,” he admitted.

But when his father later examined the contract, it was clear that the terms were completely different from what he had been told.

Instead of being a key player at Watford, Gueye was actually set to be loaned out, there was no signing bonus, and his salary decreased over time. Worse still, his agent had taken a €1m bonus without telling him.

“I was shocked… It destroyed me.”

Realizing the extent of the deception, Gueye’s family attempted to negotiate an amicable termination of the deal, but Watford refused. This led him to sign for Marseille instead, which then triggered the legal dispute that saw him banned from playing despite being a victim of the situation.

A lesson learned

Gueye’s case serves as a warning to young players about the importance of checking contracts thoroughly before signing. Although he has since moved on and found stability at Villarreal, the Watford saga remains a dark chapter in his career—one that left him emotionally devastated and forced to fight a battle he never expected.

In other news, Crystal Palace in the picture to sign Watford star – Player could ’embrace new challenge’ next season.