It will be elementary for Watson

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New signing predicted to make an impact with Albion in the Premier League.

Richie Mills

2025-06-07T06:00+01:00

Albion have an ‘exciting’ young talent in summer signing Tommy Watson, who will forever be remembered by Sunderland fans for his stoppage-time winner in the Championship play-off final which secured promotion to the Premier League.

That is according to We Are Sunderland columnist James Hunter, who believes Fabian Hurzeler's side are getting a ‘dynamic’ left winger with bags of potential.

"Tommy is a genuine talent who joined Sunderland at under-9 level and whose potential was spotted early on by his academy coaches. He’s an exciting, dynamic left winger who creates chances and has an eye for goal," said Hunter.

"His main strengths are his pace, his ball-carrying ability, his directness and the ease with which he beats defenders. He is right-footed so has a tendency to cut inside onto his stronger foot, but he can also go down the outside and cross with his left."

While this has been the 19-year-old’s breakout season, after scoring three goals in 22 appearances, Hunter stressed that Watson is still ‘very raw’. Prior to signing for Albion on a deal until 2029, and making his Sunderland breakthrough this term, the teenager was not accustomed to first-team football.

"Going into last summer he had only played five minutes of senior football. Tommy only turned 19 in April and is still very raw, with plenty of room for improvement in his game - and by that I mean he has yet to fulfil his potential," said Hunter.

"He only made his first senior start in November and still has less than 900 minutes - ten full games - of league football to his name. Tommy also needed a little time to adjust to the physical demands of the Championship.

"It all changed at the end of November when he was Sunderland’s key man against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, earning his side a penalty and generally running the Blades' defence ragged, albeit the Black Cats lost 1-0.

"A week later he was man of the match at the Stadium of Light against Stoke City, scoring a brace - his first senior goals - in a 2-1 win. But after a promising start in his next outing at Bristol City he suffered knee and ankle injuries. That was a cruel blow for a player who had just begun to shine.

Tommy meeting his teammates! 🥰 pic.twitter.com/W6Vb0a24Gv
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) June 1, 2025

"When Tommy returned in March he struggled to pick up where he had left off. But manager Regis Le Bris's decision to play him during the run-in turned out to be crucial and it all set the stage for his big moment at Wembley when he signed off on the highest of highs."

Hunter says there was, naturally, some disappointment among Sunderland fans when it emerged that 6ft 3in Watson was heading to Albion. But his stoppage-time winner secured Sunderland's promotion to the Premier League was the perfect send-off.

Tommy Watson settles into his new surroundings at the American Express Elite Performance Centre. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

"To come off the bench and score an injury-time winner at Wembley; to win a play-off final and send your boyhood club into the Premier League is Roy of the Rovers stuff, and in that moment he ensured that his name will be forever remembered by Sunderland fans," added Hunter.

"There will be a sense of sadness that Tommy’s will not be part of Sunderland’s Premier League return next season and that his full potential will be realised elsewhere."

So, how will he do in the Premier League, and is he ready for the jump up in quality from the Championship?

"One of the main reasons he chose to move to Brighton was the promise that he would be involved at first-team level, not merely loaned out or left in the youth ranks," said Hunter.

"Tommy has earned his chance to show he can step up to Premier League level and now it is up to him to prove he can make an impact. Sunderland fans may wish he was making that step up with their club, but his parting gift to the Black Cats means he leaves with nothing but their thanks and best wishes for the future."