Former Watford forward set to join Chelsea from Brighton, and the lofty sum banked by the Championship outfit will be a major benefit in the transfer window.
Following the conclusion of the 2024/25 Championship campaign, Watford sacked Tom Cleverley as head coach and appointed Paulo Pezzolano as his replacement.
Since then, Plymouth Argyle appointed Cleverley to lead their League One campaign, and back at Vicarage Road, the newly appointed boss has been busy in the summer transfer window.
The handful of new additions to the Hornets squad will help soften the blow of the managerial change, with many Watford fans concerned over Pezzolano.
As the summer window continues, Watford are set to bank a seven-figure windfall as former Hornets ace Joao Pedro is poised to complete a big-money move from Brighton to Chelsea.
Joao Pedro reacts during Manchester City FC vs Brighton & Hove Albion FC in the Premier League
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Watford will bank seven-figure fee from Joao Pedro Chelsea transfer
Brazilian forward Joao Pedro arrived at Watford from his native outfit Fluminense in the mid-season window of the 2020/21 season for a fee in the region of £10m.
Pedro scored 24 goals and notched eight assists in 109 appearances for the Hornets before joining top flight Brighton, which saw the South Coast outfit shell out a fee of £30m for the forward.
Within that deal, Watford negotiated a 20 percent sell-on clause on any profit that Brighton makes on Pedro.
Now, Chelsea have secured Pedro’s services for a figure which Sky Sports News reports to be “worth up to £60m”.
As a result, Watford will inherit around a £6m sum with Pedro’s move as the 20 percent windfall is based on Brighton’s profit, and this financial boost will be a major benefit to the Hornets within their summer transfer window.
Watford are tipped for a play-off place next season, and their early summer business has given enough indication that the Hornets will in contention to do so, especially if they can reinvest the Pedro windfall into one key area.
Paulo Pezzolano during Getafe CF v Real Valladolid CF
Photo by Diego Souto/Getty Images
Watford must reinvest Joao Pedro windfall to help Paulo Pezzolano
The early summer business at Vicarage Road has been impressive, with the arrivals of Hector Kyprianou, Marc Bola, and the signing of goalkeeper Nathan Baxter.
Watford fans are confident over Kyprianou, and ought to be after the 24-year-old’s stellar showing in Peterborough United’s midfield in League One last term.
However, if Watford are to achieve a play-off place in the 2025/26 Championship campaign, the Hornets hierarchy must utilise the Pedro windfall to ensure their top talent remains this summer.
Statistic Giorgi Chakvetadze
Games played 41
Goals 2
Assists 7
Giorgi Chakvetadze for Watford in the 2024/25 season, data as per Fotmob
Particularly, Watford must use the funds to ensure that forward Giorgi Chakvetadze remains at the club, after his impressive campaign last season.
Chakvetadze cemented himself as one of the Championship’s best players in 2024/25, and the £6m Pedro windfall presents an opportunity for Watford not to be forced into player sales this summer.
With several European sides interested in the Georgian this summer, offering him a new contract or plugging financial gaps would be a sensible reinvestment of those funds to retain Chakvetadze, as his presence will be imperative to Pezzolano’s play-off push.