Rocco Vata, born 18 April 2005, is a Scottish-born footballer who now finds himself weaving his magic on the field as a right winger for Watford. Standing 5ft 8in (1.75m) tall with an athletic build, tipping the scales at 10st 5lb (66kg), Vata bolsters the number 11 jersey on his back. However, his talents lie not solely with the Championship side, as he also dons the emerald kit of the Republic of Ireland national team.
His deft skills have indeed been acknowledged in the football market, with his current value estimated to be around £1.58m, as reported by Transfermarkt.
Perhaps his Scottish roots associated with Celtic were too hard to ignore as in July 2012, Vata joined the Premiership side as a trainee. His effort and dedication during the 2022 - 2023 season, his debut, saw him make four first team appearances in league matches. Thereafter, in the following season, 2023 - 2024, despite only making one first team appearance, he remained a devoted component of the Celtic machinery.
However, Vata was not long for the Scottish Premiership, for in July 2024, he was transferred from Celtic to Watford in the Championship for an estimated fee of around £240k. The move proved a significant progression in his career; with his debut season in England, 2024 - 2025, marked by 33 first team appearances and three goals to his name. As the current 2025 - 2026 season progresses, Vata continues to impress, having already made ten first team appearances and scoring twice.
Besides his exploits in the league, he has held his own on other stages, with participations in the FA Cup 2024 - 2025 for Watford, scoring a goal in his sole start, and the Nations League 2024 - 2025 for the Republic of Ireland, where he made an appearance as a substitute.
