The Watford FC transfer masterclass that made £30m will go down in history: View | OneFootball

In the almost 12 years since the Pozzo family took over at Watford, there have been a long list of signings at the club.

Naturally, some of these transfers have been more successful than others, with plenty of money wasted on duds, but also some real gems found.

In fact, one thing Watford have managed to do consistently with Gino Pozzo at the helm is find up and coming talent that they can nurture and eventually sell on for a big profit. Young players signed in recent years that have gone on to net the club a healthy return include the likes of Richarlison, Dodi Lukebakio, and Pervis Estupinan, among others.

One prospect signed by the club in recent history set himself apart from the rest during his time at Vicarage Road, though, with his transfer proving a real stroke of genius from the club.

Watford sign Joao Pedro

We are of course talking about João Pedro, signed from Brazilian outfit Fluminense in October 2018.

The Hornets snapped up João Pedro at just 17-years-old, agreeing a deal that would eventually see the player arrive in England in January 2020. João Pedro was granted a work permit in October 2019, with his five-year deal at Vicarage Road becoming active when he linked up with the Hornets just a couple of months later.

Such was the Brazilian's talent that Liverpool tried to hijack the deal after Watford had agreed a reported £2 million fee for the player the year prior.

Cleverly, though, the Hornets deal meant that any club wishing to sign Joao Pedro ahead of them would have to pay the the club £20 million, which would have seen them make a huge profit without him ever turning up at Vicarage Road.

In the end, João Pedro did eventually arrive in WD18 once he had come of age, and the rest is history.

Joao Pedro was a star for Watford

Arriving at Vicarage Road with a lightweight frame, with Watford embroiled in a relegation battle, the young Brazilian did not feature much in his first six months at the club, making just five appearances that campaign, with just three of those in the Premier League.

With Watford relegated to the Championship that summer, however, it presented João Pedro with an opportunity. He now had the chance to play plenty of football, and so he did, featuring in 38 league matches in 2020/21 as the Hornets won promotion back to the Premier League.

Operating as a centre forward in the Championship for the most part that campaign, João Pedro scored nine league goals and registered three assists, with his link up play with the likes of Ismaila Sarr proving crucial for the club as they finished second in the division.

Despite Watford being relegated once again the following season, Joao Pedro's development continued in the top-flight, even if his numbers were not impressive. In the summer of 2022, this led to Newcastle United coming close to signing the Brazilian for a reported £30 million.

The deal was never concluded, though, with João Pedro instead committing his immediate future to Watford.

11 goals and four assists followed back in the Championship for 2022/23, operating as a number 10 for the Hornets this time around, and his fine performances only attracted more transfer interest last summer.

Joao Pedro was a clear shining light for the Hornets in what was otherwise a season to forget.

£30 million João Pedro sale

It was clear for all at Vicarage Road to see that João Pedro had outgrown the Championship, and so the player was sold for a big profit at the conclusion of the 2022/23 campaign.

Premier League outfit Brighton and Hove Albion were the side to land him, forking out £30 million for his signature once the Championship campaign had concluded.

Despite that being a club-record fee for the Seagulls, the Brazilian and has gone on to prove money well spent already in 2023/24, with 19 goals and two assists in all competitions so far this season.

Whilst João Pedro will no doubt be worth considerably more in the future, for Watford, it was the right time to sell, and it still netted the club a healthy return on their initial investment, and at a time when they needed it.

From a business perspective, then, the deal to bring João Pedro to the football club was a pure spark of genius, and is testament to the scouting network in place at Vicarage Road.

Not only that, on the pitch, it was a brilliant deal, too. Watford fans got to enjoy watching the embryonic stages of a career that will no doubt go on to reach the very top level.