Why João Pedro was a bargain at €34.2m & why Brighton’s Brazilian is destined for the top

At the end of December, Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi admitted it will be “very tough” to keep Brazilian forward João Pedro at the club for a long time. After the 22-year-old struck a brace against Tottenham, De Zerbi said: “He [Pedro] was the best player on the pitch. I am really pleased with his improvement in mentality, attitude. He is becoming a top player. I hope in the next year to work with him, but it will be very tough.” Last Saturday, Pedro showed his worth yet again. Firing a hat-trick against Sheffield United to send Brighton into the FA Cup quarter-finals, and take his season tally to 18.

Ecuadorian Moisés Caicedo - signed for €28m from Independiente del Valle. Sold for €116m to Chelsea. Argentine Alexis Mac Allister - signed for €8m from Argentinos Juniors. Sold for €42m to Liverpool. Ecuadorian Pervis Estupiñán signed for €17.8m from Villarreal. Current market value is €35m. Paraguayan Julio Enciso signed for €11.6m from Libertad. Current market value is €22m. Argentine Facundo Buonanotte signed for just €6m from Rosario Central. Current market value is €12m. And the Seagulls have just completed the €9.15m signing of €13m valued Valentin Barco from Boca Juniors. You get the message. There is a pattern emerging of Brighton signing young South American wonderkids, developing them, and selling them on for a hefty profit. Pedro is likely to be another on that conveyor belt.

Signed from Watford for a Brighton club record fee of €34.2 million last summer, the Brazilian already has a market value of €35m, and could be set for another rise in value in the next Premier League market value update in March. It took time for Pedro to settle in English football, but it looks as though the Seagulls have unearthed yet another South American gem at exactly the right time. Seventh placed Brighton take on Luton this Tuesday looking to continue their push for the European places.

Why João Pedro is an elite forward

Pedro has 18 goals in just 30 appearances for Brighton this season. He has been prolific. This statistic becomes all the more impressive when you consider he has come off the bench for 10 of his 21 Premier League appearances this term. He is also the top goalscorer in the Europa League with six goals in six games in Europe, and the 22-year-old certainly can’t be considered a flat-track bully. He has scored against Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham this campaign. But there’s much more to his game than just being a goalscorer. 

Only four players who have played centre forward in the Premier League this season have completed more dribbles than Pedro. He also ranks eighth in the entire league for touches in the opposition's penalty area per 90 mins. His link up play has been superb and he is always a willing runner and a tireless team player. “In the defensive phase he [Pedro] defended like a centre-back for 90 mins”, said De Zerbi last month after their 4-2 victory against Spurs.

Pedro swapped Rio De Janeiro for Watford back in January 2020, making a €11.5m move from Fluminense, aged 18. In two seasons in the Championship with the Hornets he scored 20 goals in 73 matches, but struggled in the Premier League in the 2020/21 season, finding the back of the net just three times in 28 games. However, glimpses of his talent were always on show, and he’s now coming of age. Pedro made his Brazil debut in November last year, replacing Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior in a 2-1 defeat to Colombia. 

The former Watford forward is also showing nerves of steel from the spot that defy his youth this term. He is the first Premier League player to reach double figures in penalties in a single campaign since Bruno Fernandes in the 2020-21 season. In fact, as can be seen above, no player playing in Europe’s top five leagues has scored more penalties in all competitions than Pedro this campaign. With a 100% conversion rate, he has become the spot kick king on the South-Coast.

Which clubs could sign João Pedro in the summer

There was reported interest from both Everton and Newcastle, before Pedro decided to swap Watford for Brighton last summer, but it seems as though his next club, should he stay on the same trajectory, is likely to be a European giant. Both Arsenal and Chelsea have been rumoured with a move for a number of strikers this January, and are both likely to be in the market for a forward come the summer. Both could be potential destinations for Pedro come June. 

“I am afraid, the more we have Brazilians moving to the Premier League, the fewer chances for Brazil to win the World Cup.” said Brazilian legendary right-back Cafu last November. He continued: "Imagine being brainwashed by the media every week that you are the best in the world, meanwhile, you are not near the best. I prefer La Liga because they have a high mentality to reach finals and win them. They speak football there, not myth.” If Pedro was to take the advice of the former Brazil captain then either Barcelona or Real Madrid could be potential suitors. Wherever Pedro ends up, the future looks bright, and Brighton are sure to demand an astronomical fee for their forward’s services.