Tom Watson (footballer, born 2006)

Thomas Watson (born 8 April 2006) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion.^[2]

Tom Watson

Personal information
Full name	Thomas Watson[1]
Date of birth	(2006-04-08) 8 April 2006 (age 19)
Place of birth	Horden, England
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Winger
Team information
Current team	Brighton & Hove Albion
Number	14
Youth career
2015–2023	Sunderland
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2023–2025	Sunderland	22	(2)
2025–	Brighton & Hove Albion	0	(0)
International career‡
2023	England U17	5	(1)
2023	England U18	2	(0)
2025–	England U19	4	(2)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:07, 3 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 20 June 2025

Club career

Sunderland

Born in Horden, Watson first joined the Sunderland academy at the Under-9 level.^[3]

On 18 April 2023, Watson made his professional debut for Sunderland, appearing as a substitute in the EFL Championship against Huddersfield Town.^[4][5] Despite a back injury hampering his ability to feature at the start of the 2023–24 season, Watson signed a new three-year contract with Sunderland in September 2023.^[6][3]

On 7 December 2024, Watson scored the first league goals of his professional career in a 2–1 EFL Championship win for Sunderland against Stoke City.^[7]

On 1 April 2025, Watson was announced as a signing for Premier League-side Brighton & Hove Albion for a £10m fee, officially joining the club at the start of the forthcoming transfer window.^[8] A month later, on 24 May, he came off the bench and scored a stoppage-time winner to complete the 2–1 comeback win over Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final, securing Sunderland's return to the Premier League for the first time since 2017.^[9]

Brighton & Hove Albion

On 1 June 2025, Watson joined Brighton & Hove Albion, signing a contract until June 2029.^[10]

Style of play

Watson is noted for his pace and directness.^[11]

International career

Watson made his England U17 debut in January 2023. That same month he scored his first England U17 goal in a 6-0 win over Germany U17.^[12][13]

Watson made his England U18 debut during a 1–1 draw with Belgium in Marbella on 11 October 2023.^[14]

Watson was included in the England U19 squad for the 2025 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.^[15] He made a goalscoring debut for that age group during a 3-1 warm-up win over Iceland at St George's Park National Football Centre on 6 June 2025.^[16]

Career statistics

As of match played 24 May 2025^[2]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Sunderland	2022–23	Championship	1	0	0	0	0	0	—		1	0
	2023–24	Championship	1	0	0	0	0	0	—		1	0
	2024–25	Championship	20	2	0	0	1	0	1[a]	1	22	3
Career total			22	2	0	0	1	0	1	1	24	3

1. Appearance in EFL Championship play-offs

Honours

Sunderland

• EFL Championship play-offs: 2025^[17]