Brighton have confirmed the signing of Watford ahead Joao Pedro for £30 million, breaking their switch document within the course of.
The Brazilian will transfer to the Amex in the summertime on a five-year contract having been prime scorer for the Hornets within the present Championship marketing campaign with 11 objectives from 35 appearances.
Pedro matches the profile of your typical Albion signing. He’s solely 21-years-old and so open to enchancment, technically gifted and versatile with the power to play as a striker, second striker, quantity 10 or on the left.
The place Pedro differs is his price ticket. The £30 million charge is way in extra of something Brighton have paid for a participant earlier than, the earlier highest being £20 million for Adam Webster in the summertime of 2019.
To pay such an quantity represents a shift in coverage. Roberto De Zerbi has greater than earned that backing nevertheless, by main Brighton to the cusp of European soccer for the primary time ever.
De Zerbi has publicly said on a number of events that he needs his squad strengthened for 2023-24 to proceed competing for a prime six spot.
A £30 million striker is a sure-fire method of protecting top-of-the-line head coaches in Europe pleased, kicking off what could possibly be a busy summer time. The seize of veteran Liverpool midfielder James Milner on a free switch is predicted to be introduced shortly.
Brighton have moved early for Pedro, securing his signature earlier than the switch window opens to fend off curiosity from different prime golf equipment.
Liverpool tracked Pedro when he was nonetheless a young person in his native Brazil. AC Milan have been mentioned to be contemplating a summer time bid having been “bewitched” by Pedro.
Regardless of him taking part in in a struggling Watford aspect, the Rossoneri noticed him as a long-term successor to their getting old striker choices Olivier Giroud and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Newcastle United have been reported to be near signing Pedro in the course of the January switch window. Brighton technical director David Weir revealed the Albion have been monitoring Pedro for a while, which makes you surprise if that stems again to Dan Ashworth’s days on the membership and is the place the Saudi Sportswashers’ curiosity got here from.
As for Watford, they’ve a positive document with regards to discovering younger expertise in South America, additionally bringing Richarlison and a sure Pervis Estupinan to Europe.
Pedro was noticed and signed by the Hornets from Fluminese in October 2018 for £2 million earlier than he had even made his skilled debut.
He remained in Brazil for the subsequent 14 months, changing into a primary crew common within the 2019 season on the age of 17. Pedro scored seven instances and contributed two assists from 28 matches earlier than shifting to Vicarage Street in January 2020.
There was little Pedro might do to stop Watford being relegated come the top of the 2019-20 marketing campaign. He did although play a giant half of their rapid return to the highest flight, scoring 9 objectives and claiming 4 assists to complete second prime scorer after Ismaila Sarr.
Life amongst the elite in 2021-22 was a bit of harder with Pedro contributing three objectives in 28 matches. The Hornets have been relegated once more with 2022-23 carry to an finish their yo-yo existence as they’re marooned in mid desk.
That has not stopped Pedro shining although and his 11 objectives depart him sixteenth within the Championship prime scorers checklist. Some fascinating names are forward of him, together with former Brighton duo Chuba Akpom on 28 and Viktor Gyokeres on 21.
Blackburn Rovers striker and man linked with the Albion for what looks like each switch window prior to now 20 years Ben Brereton Diaz has yet another than Pedro, sitting on 12.
Primarily based on what he has carried out with Watford within the Premier League, Pedro wants to enhance. Hornets followers will inform although that he has matured this season, even captaining the membership on events regardless of his tender years.
There is no such thing as a higher place in England than Brighton for him to develop additional and at a sooner fee. Pedro’s arrival may even ease the burden on Danny Welbeck and Evan Ferguson, two gamers who want their sport time fastidiously managed for various causes.
Different issues which may be of curiosity to Brighton followers about Joao Pedro is that he dated a 15-year-old Brazilian tv star when he was 18 and nonetheless at Fluminese.
Because the Every day Mirror helpfully identified when publishing the story: “The authorized age of consent within the UK is 16, in contrast with 14 of their native Brazil”
Watford added in a press release one month after Pedro arrived in England: “Each Joao and his girlfriend are aware of each the legality and cultural variations between the UK and Brazil.”
“She has flown again to Brazil, will stay resident there and has no intention of returning to England till after her sixteenth birthday.” What a day that should have been within the Hornets media division.
Scandalously, Pedro just isn’t a fan of Elton John both. After assembly the Hornets’ most well-known supporter in 2021, Pedro mentioned: “He got here to the dressing room after the sport and handed out some participant of the yr awards. With all respect to him, I want Brazilian music.”
