João Pedro (footballer, born 2001)

João Pedro Junqueira Jesus (born 26 September 2001), known as João Pedro, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL Championship club Watford. He will join Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion on 10 June 2023.

For other uses, see João Pedro.
João Pedro
Personal information
Full name João Pedro Junqueira Jesus[1]
Date of birth (2001-09-26) 26 September 2001
Place of birth Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Watford
Number 10
Youth career
2011–2019 Fluminense
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2020 Fluminense 29 (5)
2020–2023 Watford 104 (23)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 April 2023 (UTC)

Early and personal life

João Pedro was born in Ribeirão Preto to parents Flavia Junqueira and José João de Jesus, more commonly known as Chicão, a professional footballer for Botafogo. Chicão was jailed for sixteen years in 2002, serving eight, for being an accessory to murder. By the time of Chicão's imprisonment, he and Junqueira had separated.[2]

Career

Fluminense

João Pedro joined the youth system of Fluminense, and his mother moved with him to Rio de Janeiro. As he moved through the club's academy he switched from being a defensive midfielder, like his father, to an attacking midfielder, and then a striker.[2] On 19 October 2018, before he had even made his senior debut, Premier League club Watford agreed a deal to sign João Pedro in January 2020 on a five-year contract.[3] On 28 March 2019, João Pedro made his senior debut for Fluminense as a stoppage-time substitute in a 2–1 loss to arch-rivals Flamengo in the Campeonato Carioca.[4] A month later on 29 April, he made his league debut as a late substitute in the 1–0 loss to Goiás.[5] He then proceeded to fire seven goals in his next four games, including a hat trick in a 4–1 Copa Sudamericana victory against Atlético Nacional.[6]

Watford

On 30 October 2019, it was announced that he had received his UK work permit and would sign for Watford in January 2020.[7] He scored his first goal for Watford in a 1–0 win over Luton Town on 26 September 2020,[8] his 19th birthday. He then scored a long-range goal on 16 October 2020 in Watford's win over Derby County.

João Pedro scored his first Premier League goal against Manchester United on 20 November 2021. He dedicated the goal to his late stepfather, Carlos Junior. On 15 January 2022, João Pedro scored the equalizer against Newcastle United in the 88th minute. The match ended in a 1–1 draw.[9]

Brighton & Hove Albion

On 5 May 2023, Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion confirmed the acquisition of Pedro from Watford, with the transfer fee undisclosed,[10] but reported to be in the region of a club-record £30 million fee.[11]

Career statistics
As of match played 22 April 2023[12]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League State league[lower-alpha 1] National cup[lower-alpha 2] League cup[lower-alpha 3] Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Fluminense 2019 Série A 2544142—4[lower-alpha 4]33710
Watford 2019–20 Premier League 30—2000—50
2020–21 Championship 389—1010—409
2021–22 Premier League 283—1100—294
2022–23 Championship 3511—0000—3511
Total 10423—4110—10924
Career total 129274183104314634
  1. Includes Campeonato Carioca
  2. Includes Copa do Brasil, FA Cup
  3. Includes EFL Cup
  4. Appearances in Copa Sudamericana

References
  1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Watford" (PDF). English Football League. p. 73. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  2. "The Joao Pedro story: Tragedy, tears and a special talent". The Athletic. 29 November 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  3. "Official: Hornets Agree Pedro Signing". Watford. 19 October 2018. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  4. "FLUMINENSE 1 - 2 FLAMENGO". int.soccerway.com. 28 March 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  5. "FLUMINENSE VS. GOIÁS 0 - 1". int.soccerway.com. 29 April 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  6. "Joao Pedro: The Watford-bound striker on a hot streak for Fluminense". Sky Sports. 29 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  7. "Watford teenager Joao Pedro granted work permit year after signing". BBC Sport. 29 October 2019.
  8. "Watford 1-0 Luton". BBC. 26 September 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  9. "Watford snatch late draw at Newcastle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  10. "Albion agree Joao Pedro deal". www.brightonandhovealbion.com. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  11. "Joao Pedro: Brighton agree to sign Watford forward for club record fee". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  12. João Pedro at Soccerway. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
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