Brighton & Hove Albion have confirmed the club-record signing of Joao Pedro, a Brazilian forward from Watford in a deal reportedly worth 30 million pounds.
The 21-year-old will join Brighton on a contract that will run through the summer of 2028 when the transfer window opens.
The contract breaks Brighton & Hove Albion’s last club-record signing of 20 million pounds spent on former Bristol City defender Adam Webster in 2019.
Following Joao Pedro’s announcement, Brighton technical director, David Weir, said; “Pedro has been a long-term target of ours, and he has also attracted a lot of interest from across Europe”.
“So, we are delighted to have reached an agreement with a key target for the club ahead of the summer window opening, and it is great for Joao that he can focus on the new season, with his immediate future settled”.
He added; “He’s a brilliant young talent, technically very good, quick and with an eye for goal”.
Joao Pedro’s stats for Watford this season;
The Brazilian forward has played 35 games for Watford this season, he created 45 chances, scored 11 goals, registered 4 assists, fired 28 shots on target, completed 1227 passes, and fouled 39 times.
He scored a total number of 24 goals in 109 appearances in all competitions for Watford.
On the other hand, James Milner, a midfielder for Liverpool, is set to join Roberto De Zerbi’s squad for free.
Milner, 37, will be leaving Anfield this summer and is expected to sign a one-year deal with Brighton and Hove Albion to play alongside former teammate Adam Lallana.
Who’s Joao Pedro?
Joao Pedro Junqueira Jesus better known as Joao Pedro, is a Brazilian professional football player who currently plays as a forward for EFL Championship club Watford and he will join Brighton & Hove Albion on July 1st, 2023.
Joao Pedro age;
Pedro was born on the 26th of September, 2001, in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
Joao Pedro’s career;
Joao Pedro moved to Rio de Janeiro so that he could play for the Fluminense youth team.
After starting as a defensive midfielder like his dad, he progressed through the club’s youth system and eventually became a striker.
Watford, a Premier League club, agreed to sign Joao Pedro, who is yet to make his senior debut, on October 19, 2018, for a five-year contract beginning in January 2020.
On March 28, 2019, Joao Pedro made his senior team debut for Fluminense as a substitute in the team’s 2-1 Campeonato Carioca loss to bitter rivals Flamengo.
On 29 April, a month later, he made his league debut in a 1-0 loss to Goiás after coming in as a late substitute.
He scored seven goals in his next four games, including a hat trick in a 4-1 Copa Sudamericana win over Atlético Nacional.
Watford announced on 30 October, 2019 that he had received his UK work permit and would be signing with the club in January 2020.
On his 19th birthday, September 26, 2020, he scored his first goal for Watford, helping the team to a 1-0 victory over Luton Town.
The following year, on October 16th, 2020, he scored a long-range goal in Watford’s victory over Derby County.
On November 20, 2021, Joao Pedro notched his first goal in the Premier League, scoring against Manchester United.
He honoured his late stepfather, Carlos Junior, with the goal.
