It’s official – Tommy Watson will not be a Sunderland player next season. He’s joining Brighton in a £10million deal in the summer transfer window.
Brighton are finally getting Tommy Watson after what is now a few transfer windows of trying to get a deal over the line for the 18-year-old Sunderland academy graduate, who’s featured 14 times in the Championship this season and scored twice.
Injury has kept him sidelined for a good chunk of the season but under Regis Le Bris, the teenager has finished, and he’s now getting his shot at the big time with Brighton who tried to sign him last summer and then on deadline day earlier this year.
Brighton failed with a £13million package for Watson and are now getting him for £10million with Watson out of contract at the Stadium of Light in the summer of 2026, with Sunderland seemingly cashing in before risking any further losses on Watson’s price tag.
Needless to say, the move has sparked some debate online. Sunderland fans reacted to Watson’s move to Brighton and many are in agreement that £10million for such a young and inexperienced player is good business from Kristjaan Speakman and co.
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Tommy Watson has wanted Sunderland exit for a while, says Graeme Bailey
Watson’s move to Brighton may anger a few Sunderland fans who think that the Sunderland man may not have acted entirely faithfully towards the club that has given him his introduction to first-team football. And they might have reason to believe that’s the case after all.
Transfer expert Graeme Bailey has revealed to Sunderland AFC News that the winger has in fact been looking to leave Sunderland for some time now and that the club ‘knew Watson was going’ all along, it was just a matter of when they and Brighton could agree terms.
Bailey said: “Sunderland knew Watson was going, as we know Brighton have been trying to sign him since last summer.
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“Some Sunderland fans will be maybe left aggrieved that they are selling one of their top youngsters but Watson’s situation is different – he has been looking at a route out of the club for a while.”
Bailey then suggested that there’s a ‘fair chance’ Watson is loaned out in the summer, adding: “Brighton have been pushing hard and the move appeals to Watson. The summer will be a big one for him, I would say there is a fair chance he could be loaned out but he will be aware of the plan in place for him and that has been discussed at length.”
Photo by Mark Fletcher/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Mark Fletcher/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Where Tommy Watson ranks among Sunderland’s most expensive player sales
Last summer, Sunderland sold Jack Clarke to Ipswich Town in a £15million deal that put the former Black Cats favourite among the club’s most expensive player sales of all time.
And Watson’s pending £10million move to Brighton is another one for the Sunderland record books, with Watson set to rank fifth in the most expensive Sunderland player sales of all time…
Player Club joined Reported fee
Ross Stewart Southampton £8m
Kenwyne Jones Stoke City £8m
Connor Wickham Crystal Palace £9m
Simon Mignolet Liverpool £9m
Tommy Watson Brighton £10m
Patrick van Aanholt Crystal Palace £14m
Jack Clarke Ipswich Town £15m
Jordan Henderson Liverpool £20m
Darren Bent Aston Villa £24m
Jordan Pickford Everton £30m
Thankfully though, Sunderland have inserted a 20% sell-on clause in Watson’s move to Brighton. If he goes on to fulfil his potential with the Seagulls then in a few year’s time, Sunderland could be looking at a significant windfall for his eventual move on from Brighton, who have sold players for up to £100million in recent years.
Sunderland return to Championship action against West Brom on Saturday.