In a long interview with Brazilian outlet [**Globo Esporte**](https://ge.globo.com/futebol/futebol-internacional/noticia/2025/08/28/minha-mae-nao-desistiu-quando-eu-desisti-como-joao-pedro-seguiu-adiante-para-brilhar-no-chelsea.ghtml), João Pedro also revisited his two-season spell at Brighton, which he sees as the springboard to reach the ‘elite level’.
After impressing with Watford in the Championship, the striker moved to the Seagulls in 2023 and quickly proved himself in the Premier League. Over his time at the Amex, he made 70 appearances and scored 30 goals, numbers that caught the attention of bigger clubs.
João Pedro explained why Brighton was a crucial step in his journey. _“I believe that at Brighton it was the right moment for me to show that I could take that step to the top shelf. In the first year, I scored 20 goals, played in the Europa League and got my first call-up to the national team. That was fundamental to prove I was ready to evolve,”_ he told Globo Esporte.
The plan was for him to stay three years, but his impact was immediate. Those goals and his first experiences in Europe with Brighton accelerated the process, making it clear he would not stay as long as initially imagined.
Playing in European competition and earning a place with Brazil gave him the platform he needed. João Pedro stressed that those seasons were more than just a stepping stone – they were the stage on which he showed consistency in English football and proved he belonged at the highest level.
That spell cemented João Pedro as one of the most promising Brazilian forwards in England, and ensured that when the chance came to join Chelsea, he was ready – thanks to the Seagulls.