Watson played youth football with Colchester United for five years, until he was sixteen, when he was released due to being too small.[2] Afterwards, he then joined the AFC Sudbury academy program.[2]
College career
In 2018, Watson headed to the United States, through the U.S Sports Scholarships organization, which helps English footballers attend an American post-secondary institution to earn a degree and play college soccer.[3] He joined Hastings College and played for their men's soccer team in the NAIA.[4] He made his debut on October 26, 2018 against the Bethany Bison, scoring his first goal and adding two assists in a 5-0 victory.[5] In his first season, he won the conference title as well as the conference tournament title.[6] He was named a GPAC First Team All-Star in both 2018 and 2019.[7][8] In 2019, he helped the team to a second place finish at the national NAIA Men's Soccer Championship and earned All-Tournament Team honours and was also named a First Team All-America.[3] During his two seasons with Hastings, he scored 14 goals and added 28 assists in 38 matches.[9]
In December 2019, it was announced that he would transfer to Creighton University, beginning classes in January, and joining the men's soccer team in the NCAA in the fall.[10] He recorded his first assist on March 17, 2021 against the Butler Bulldogs.[11] On March 29, 2021, he scored his first goal for Creighton in a 3-1 victory over the Kansas City Roos.[12] He was named to the All-Big East Second Team for the 2021 Spring season (which occurred as the regular 2020 fall season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic).[13] In October 2021, he was named the Big East Offensive Player of the Week.[14] After the 2021 Fall season, he was named to the USCA All-East Region Third Team as well as the All-BIG EAST Second Team for the second time.[15] After his final season in 2022, he was named to the All-Big East Third Team.[16]
In January 2023, he briefly returned to AFC Sudbury, now in the eighth tier Isthmian League North Division.[20][21] However, he soon after signed a professional contract and instead remained with Sudbury on a training stint, without appearing in matches to avoid injury risk.[2]
On January 25, 2023, Watson signed with Canadian Premier League club HFX Wanderers for the 2023 season, with an option for 2024.[22][23] He had received offers to attend preseason with Major League Soccer clubs Real Salt Lake and Houston Dynamo FC, but instead opted to sign the guaranteed contract with the Wanderers instead.[24] On 10 June 2023, Watson scored a brace in a 2-0 victory over Valour FC to help the Wanderers earn their first victory of the season,[25][26] earning league Team of the Week honours for the first time.[27] In his sole season with the club, he scored three goals and added an assist in 26 appearances, across all competitions.[28][29]
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