Brighton have broken the bank to complete a record signing of Brazilian attacker Joao Pedro from Watford on a five-year deal.
Joao Pedro, 21, joined Premier League side Watford in 2020 for a transfer fee reportedly under £30m.
Brighton reached an agreement for the attacker on 5th May and Pedro was able to complete his switch once the summer transfer window opened.
Brighton technical director David Weir said after Pedro was signed that: “Joao has been a long-term target of ours and has also attracted a lot of interest from across Europe.”
“He’s a brilliant young talent with an eye for goal. He will complement our existing forward line very well.”
Brighton finished sixth-place in the league this season and Roberto De Zerbi’s men will be playing in Europe for the first time next season.
Pedro scored 24 goals in 109 appearances for Championship side Watford, including 11 goals in 35 games this season.
Recall we reported that Brighton are interested in landing James Milner from Liverpool, Pedro is part of their plans ahead of next season.
Joao Pedro To Brighton
João Pedro Junqueira Jesus also known as João Pedro, is a Brazilian professional footballer who was born on 26th September 2001.
Pedro played as a forward or striker for Watford before he signed for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion for a 5 year deal.
Pedro was born in Ribeirão Preto to Flavia Junqueira and José João de Jesus, who is mostly known as Chicão, a professional footballer for Botafogo.
Pedro’s father Chicão was jailed for sixteen years in 2002, serving eight, for being an accessory to murder.
By the time of Chicão’s imprisonment, he and his partner Junqueira – Pedro’s mum – had separated.
Pedro joined the youth system of Fluminense, and his mother moved with him to Rio de Janeiro, he moved from the midfielder role to striking position.
He agreed to join Watford in January 2020 on a five-year contract before he even made his debut on 19 October, 2018.
It was announced on 30 October, 2019 that Pedro had received his UK work permit and would sign for Watford in January 2020.
Pedro scored his first goal for Watford in a 1–0 win over Luton Town on 26 September, 2020, which was on his 19th birthday.
The young Brazilian then scored a long-range goal on 16 October, 2020 in Watford’s win over Derby County.
Pedro scored his first Premier League goal against Manchester United on 20 November, 2021, a goal he dedicated to his late stepfather, Carlos Junior.
Brighton & Hove Albion confirmed the signing of Pedro from Watford on 5th May, 2023, with the transfer fee undisclosed, but reported to be in the region of a club-record £30 million fee.
