Burton Albion skipper Elliot Watt has joined Motherwell on a two-year deal, with the club holding the option of a further year.
The 25-year-old joins the Steelmen after a six-month stint in the Scottish top-flight at St Johnstone last season.
“In Elliot we’ve found a hungry, talented and determined young man who already has plenty of experience in the senior game,” manager Jens Berthel Askou said.
“He has recently had a taste of the Scottish Premiership. He is a highly skilled passer of the ball, dictating the game in possession by always being brave and available. He covers ground well and possesses a strong positional discipline.
“I’m really pleased that he’s joining us, and he’ll add increased width, quality and competition to our squad. He’s travelled with us to the Netherlands, which will give him the best possible conditions to get included in the group and make an instant impact in our team.”
In the early stages of his football career, Watt featured in the academy ranks of Liverpool, Blackburn and Preston North End before signing a professional deal at Wolves in 2017.
Just a few months later, he made his first-team debut for Wolves in the FA Cup. This would be his only appearance for Wolves, with Watt joining Carlisle United on loan in 2020. Although his time in the North of England would be cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Watt still managed to make 14 first-team appearances in his short stint with the Blues.
Upon the return of football in the summer of 2020, Watt joined Bradford City on a two-year deal, who were managed by Stuart McCall at the time.
Spending two years at Valley Parade, he racked up 96 appearances, scoring five goals before joining Salford City in 2022. His impact would be clear to see, as in his first season, he was named in the League Two team of the year. Playing 91 games in total and assisting 24 times, he moved to Burton Albion after two years.
Named captain, Watt made 30 appearances in his first six months with Burton before joining St Johnstone in January 2025. Here, he played nine games, scoring two goals during his time in Perth, one of which came against Motherwell at Fir Park in May.
“I’ve spoken with some of the players I know in the squad,” Elliot Watt said.
“They have said how impressed they have been under the new manager, and that gave me real excitement for this move. From my short time in Scotland last year, I enjoyed the league. When this opportunity came up, I didn’t think twice.
“It’s a great opportunity for me to play regularly and enjoy my football. This is a club that has a great reputation, and I’m looking forward to being a part of that. I’ve now got some hard work ahead of me during pre-season, which I will get stuck straight into.”