Shevchenko's son Kristian signs his first pro contract with Watford
Andriy Shevchenko’s son Kristian, 16, signs his first professional contract with Watford – after the Ukraine legend announced his birth with a baby cradle celebration against the Hornets in 2006
- Shevchenko has spent time at the Chelsea, Tottenham and Watford academies
- His father celebrated his birth after scoring against the Hornets in a 4-0 win
- The young striker was born in London and is eligible to play for the Three Lions
Kristian Shevchenko, son of AC Milan legend and former Blue, Andriy, has put pen to paper on a first professional contract with Watford.
The youngster, who joined the Hornets youth set up after leaving Chelsea and Tottenham, posed for a photo as he signed on the dotted line alongside his family.
The 16-year-old joins Valérien Ismaël’s squad nearly two decades after his old man knocked in Chelsea’s opening goal in a 4-0 win against Watford in 2006.
Which he celebrated with a baby cradle celebration alongside team-mates Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Didier Drogba.
The wholesome moment was a rare bright point in Shevchenko time in west London after failing to settle following his £30million move from Milan.
Kristian Shevchenko signed his Watford deal alongside his family, including dad Andriy (right)
Andriy Shevchenko celebrated Kristian’s birth after opening the scoring in a 4-0 win in 2006
Shevchenko was capped 111 times for Ukraine and managed the national team for five years
The Balon d’Or winner netted just 22 times in 77 games during his two year stay, helping the club secure a domestic double in 2006-07, before he returned to the Rossoneri on-loan ahead of a homecoming at Dynamo Kyiv in 2009.
Shevchenko’s time in England was the only blemish on his glittering career that saw him score 326 goals in 653 games at club level and a further 48 for Ukraine in an international career that stretched 18 years and totaled 111 appearances.
A centre forward like his father, Kristian certainly has his work cut out to emulate his dad, but a more immediate concern will be to impress the new boss at Vicarage Road as the club look to rebound from a disappointing 11th-place Championship finish last term.
The rising star was born and raised in London, making him potentially eligible to play for England as a UK passport holder.
He would also qualify to play internationally for Ukraine and likely the USA and Poland via his mother’s citizenship.
Owing to Shevchenko’s legendary status in Ukraine – for his efforts on and off the field of play – seeing Kristian turn out for anyone but the Yellow and Blue would be odd.
But the 46-year-old, who managed the national side between 2016 and 2021, has left the door open for his son to make his own selection.
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