Kane Crichlow has signed for Watford on a two-year contract, the club has confirmed.

The Bermuda Under-20 midfielder joins the Premier League side from AFC Wimbledon, of Sky Bet League One, on July 1 after impressing during a trial. He will be part of Watford’s under-23 development squad.

The 18-year-old, who has captained his country at under-17 and under-15 level, told the club website: “I’m very excited. It’s always been a dream of mine since I was young to sign for a team that’s in the Premier League.

“I’m really excited that it’s finally come true. Over the summer I’m going to be doing a lot of work in the gym and training with my national team to make sure I’m ready for pre-season.”

Richard Thomas, the new Watford academy manager, added: “Kane has shown great attitude combined with top technical quality in his time with us so far, which suggests to us that he can go a long way.

“He’s a very talented player on the ball, he can play off both sides and use both feet very well and he can finish, so we’re expecting him to be very dangerous in the top third of the pitch.

“I’ve seen in the short time I’ve been here that we’ve got some really good players in the building already, so adding to that will freshen up the group and create some more competition, which can only bode well for the under-23s and the rest of the academy going forward.”

Crichlow was one of four BAA youngsters who spent time developing their games at Spanish amateur club UECornella in 2012. Last season, he featured for BAA in the First Division, netting a hat-trick in a 5-1 win over St George’s at Goose Gosling Field.

Kenny Thompson, the BAA football director, wrote on Instagram yesterday: “It is with much pride and happiness that Kane Critchlow has signed a two-year contract with Premier League club Watford.

“[It’s] the culmination of ten years of hard work and sacrifice on the part of Kane’s parents and Kane himself. This has been no easy road and is not an end, but another chapter in the journey of which a new chapter of hard work and sacrifice now begins.”