Watford have completed the signing of highly-rated Reading striker Uche Ikpeazu.

The Watford Observer reported on Friday the club were due to sign a “teenage prospect with another Championship club” and Ikpeazu confirmed the move on his Twitter page last night.

He said: “Evening I just now want to clear the air and let everyone know I have joined Watford Football Club. I just want to use this moment to thank all the Reading people right down to the fans.

“I'm not going to answer any questions as to why but I am now looking forward to a new challenge. Thank you once again and hopefully I can do my best for the @watfordfcsays FC.”

Ikpeazu models himself on Didier Drogba and says his pace and power are his main strengths.

The 18-year-old had previously stated his failure to be clinical was his main weakness but he scored 28 goals for the Reading Academy last season, which included five hat-tricks. The first trio came against Arsenal in October, another versus Blackburn Rovers a month later and he then started 2013 with a hat-trick against his former club Queens Park Rangers. Three more goals came versus Everton in March and Chelsea were the victims for his fifth hat-trick of the season in April.

Ikpeazu’s performances resulted in the striker winning the Maurice Evans Trophy (Reading’s scholar of the year) but it wasn’t enough for the Royals to secure the inaugural Under-18 Premier League. Fulham beat Reading in the final after finishing the regular season ahead of the Royals on goal difference.

The youngster spent time on loan at Didcot Town during the 2011/12 campaign and scored on his debut - a goal which the Oxford Mail described as “spectacular”.

Ikpeazu was a pupil at Newman Catholic College when his PE teacher Duncan Smith recommended the striker to Brent’s district squad and it was his performances for the borough as they won the Middlesex Cup which brought him to the Royals’ attention.

When Ikpeazu joined Reading, head of recruitment Colin Barnes said: “We have high hopes for Uche – he is a good athlete with a fantastic attitude and lots of potential. We are delighted to have him at Reading.”