João Pedro (footballer, born 2001)

1.1. Childhood and education

João Pedro was born on 26 September 2001, in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. His parents are Flavia Junqueira and José João de Jesus, who is more widely recognized by his footballing name, Chicão. Chicão was also a professional footballer, having played for Botafogo. A notable aspect of João Pedro's early life was his father's imprisonment in 2002 for sixteen years, serving eight, for being an accessory to murder. By the time of Chicão's imprisonment, he and Junqueira had separated.

João Pedro's journey in football began early when he joined the youth system of Fluminense. To facilitate his development, his mother moved with him to Rio de Janeiro. During his progression through the club's academy, João Pedro underwent several positional changes, initially starting as a defensive midfielder, then transitioning to an attacking midfielder, and eventually settling into the role of a striker.

1.2. Early activities

João Pedro made his senior debut for Fluminense on 28 March 2019, coming on as a stoppage-time substitute in a Campeonato Carioca match against arch-rivals Flamengo, which Fluminense lost 2-1. A month later, on 29 April, he made his league debut, again as a late substitute, in a 1-0 defeat to Goiás.

Despite these initial substitute appearances, João Pedro quickly demonstrated his prolific goal-scoring ability. He went on to score seven goals in his next four games, a remarkable feat that included a hat-trick in a 4-1 Copa Sudamericana victory against Atlético Nacional. This impressive early form garnered significant attention, leading to an agreement with an English club even before he had made his senior debut.

2.1. Fluminense

João Pedro joined the youth system of Fluminense and progressed through its ranks, eventually making his senior debut. On 19 October 2018, even before his senior debut, EFL Championship club Watford reached an agreement to sign him in January 2020 on a five-year contract. The transfer fee was reported to be 2.50 M EUR, with potential to rise to 10.00 M EUR based on performance clauses.

He made his professional debut for Fluminense on 28 March 2019, as a stoppage-time substitute in a Campeonato Carioca match against Flamengo, which ended in a 2-1 loss. His league debut followed on 29 April, in a 1-0 defeat to Goiás, where he again appeared as a late substitute. Despite these initial limited appearances, he quickly found his scoring touch, netting seven goals in his subsequent four games. This impressive run included a hat-trick in a 4-1 Copa Sudamericana victory against Atlético Nacional, showcasing his early impact and potential.

2.2. Watford

On 30 October 2019, it was confirmed that João Pedro had received his UK work permit, paving the way for his move to Watford in January 2020, as per the pre-contract agreement. His debut for Watford was initially delayed due to worldwide Covid shutdowns. He scored his first goal for the club on 26 September 2020, which was also his 19th birthday, in a 1-0 victory over Luton Town. On 16 October 2020, he contributed with a long-range goal in a win against Derby County.

João Pedro scored his first Premier League goal on 20 November 2021, against Manchester United, a goal he dedicated to his late stepfather, Carlos Junior. On 15 January 2022, he scored a crucial equalizer in the 88th minute against Newcastle United, securing a 1-1 draw for Watford. Throughout his time at Watford, he developed significantly, playing in both the Premier League and the EFL Championship, and contributing with key goals for the club.

2.3. Brighton & Hove Albion

On 5 May 2023, Brighton & Hove Albion announced the acquisition of João Pedro from Watford. Although the transfer fee was not officially disclosed, it was widely reported to be in the region of a club-record 30.00 M GBP. He made his debut for Brighton in the opening game of the 2023-24 season on 12 August, starting the match and scoring from the penalty spot in a 4-1 home win over newly promoted Luton Town.

João Pedro made history for Brighton on 21 September, scoring the club's first-ever European goals. He netted two penalties in a 3-2 home Europa League loss against AEK Athens, the Greek champions. He continued his impressive European form, finishing the Europa League group stage as the outright top scorer with six goals in six games, including a late winner in the final group match. This performance helped Brighton top their group and qualify for the last 16 of the competition. In a notable Premier League match on 24 August 2024, Pedro scored the winning goal in stoppage time of a 2-1 victory over Manchester United. He also scored the decisive goal against Ajax in the UEFA Europa League, securing the team's first victory in the tournament.

3.1. Brazil U-23 National Team

On 19 August 2023, João Pedro received a call-up to the Brazil Olympic football team. He subsequently made his debut for the Brazil U-23 squad, coming on as an 84th-minute substitute in a 1-0 loss against the Morocco U-23 national team.

3.2. Brazil senior team

Three months after his U-23 call-up, on 6 November 2023, João Pedro received his first call-up to the Brazil senior team. He made his debut for the Seleção on 16 November, entering the match as a substitute in the 27th minute for the injured Vinícius Júnior during a 2-1 loss to the Colombia national team.

4.1. Club statistics

4.2. International statistics