Joao Pedro has completed his move from Watford to Brighton in a deal that could potentially be worth £35m with its various clauses.

The 21-year-old forward’s fee comfortably sets a new record for a signing by the Seagulls, and is second only to the sum the Hornets received from Everton for Richarlison in 2018.

Ironically, Watford signed both forwards from Fluminense, the Brazilian club where Matheus Martins was also discovered.

In a dismal season, Pedro has been one of very few shining lights, and a move away is no surprise given he was courted by multiple Premier League clubs last summer.

His 11 goals in 31 starts makes him Watford’s top scorer this season, but it’s not only his goals that have caught the eye.

His general play, strength, attitude and skill have all combined to make him a shoo-in for the club’s Player of the Season Award.

Watford spotted Pedro when he was still a youth player in Brazil, and they agreed in 2018 to a five-year deal that the player signed in January 2020.

He scored his first goal for the club in a 1-0 win over Luton later that year, and then became a first-team regular as the Hornets were promoted to the Premier League in 2020/21.

Pedro scored four goals in 28 Premier League outings last season as Watford were relegated, and then this season he really came to the fore.

He has captained the team on several occasions, and often dragged Watford over the line such as scoring the only goal at Wigan and then both in a 2-0 win at Huddersfield.

As it became more apparent that Watford were not going to make the play-offs, rumours began to grow about where Pedro might head off to in the summer, with mention of renewed interest from Newcastle and even possibly AC Milan.

However, Brighton moved swiftly once it was mathematically confirmed that the Hornets couldn’t finish in the top six, and the deal was pretty much done last week.

The final pieces were put in place this week, although Pedro has been at London Colney and is expected to be at Vicarage Road for the game with Stoke on Monday.

Indeed, in a media release issued this afternoon they say “Watford supporters will get a chance to say farewell to Watford’s No. 10 before the final whistle”.

“I’m delighted for Joao and the move that he’s got. It was maybe the right time for him to move on and the club have got a decent fee,” said Watford head coach Chris Wilder

“He’s going to a really good football club, and we’ve all seen their progression - the structure they have and the way go about their business.

“It’ll be a different challenge for Joao. He’s been a big fish here over the last two or three years and now he goes into a football club that has a lot of fantastic players, and a way of playing that he’ll have to adapt to.

“But he’s a good guy, a good person, and if he works hard then I’m sure he can be a success.

“We have to recognise he’s still a young boy and he has a lot of learning still to be had. But in terms of individual talent there is a reason why a lot of top clubs have watched him.

“Now he has to go and produce, and knuckle down, and not only be the talented individual we know but also that team player.”

In total, João Pedro has scored 24 goals in 80 starts for the Golden Boys, adding a further 29 appearances as a substitute.