WATFORD have landed Gillingham striker Darius Henderson for a fee of £450,000.

The Championship side had been tracking the 24-year-old for several weeks and finally got their man on a four-year deal.

The transfer was completed just a day after Gillingham had boosted their strike-force with the signing of Paul Shields, and they are again short up-front.

Henderson had earlier made public his desire to leave Priestfield, although his transfer request was turned down by manager Neale Cooper in mid-July.

The Doncaster-born striker hit nine league goals for Gillingham last season after his career was rejuvinated following a succesful loan spell at Swindon.

On arrival at Vicarage Road, Henderson declared: "I'm delighted to be here. It was the move I wanted and when the opportuntiy arose to come here I didn't hesitate."

The move means Gillingham are back down to three natural strikers, with Darren Byfield, Iwan Roberts and new signing Paul Shields in Cooper's thread-bare squad.