The 17-year-old has impressed the Hornets during a trial period, and also played in Tuesday's reserve game against West Ham United.

He will now sign professional forms at Vicarage Road once the transfer window reopens in the summer.

"His sale to Watford is another filip for the youth set-up," Imps boss Keith Alexander told his club's website.

The Nottingham-born stopper, still awaiting his first-team debut, first joined Lincoln as an Under-15 player.

He was previously on the books of Ipswich's academy, and also had trials at Nottingham Forest and Chesterfield.