TOMMY SEEKS TO SIGN OFF IN STYLE

By Chris Dunlavy

STEPPING UP: Tommy Watson

PICTURE: Alamy

TOMMY Watson has pledged his full commitment to Sunderland’s Premier League promotion push after sealing a big-money move to Brighton.

It was announced on Tuesday that the 18-yearold winger had agreed a four-year deal with the Seagulls and will officially join the top-flight side in June.

But with Sunderland all but guaranteed a place in the Championship playoffs and still in with an outside chance of winning automatic promotion, Watson has insisted his focus will not waver.

Support

“Mackems, from the bottom of my heart, thank you!” Watson, who joined the club aged six, made his debut in 2023 and had scored twice in 17 appearances ahead of the weekend’s fixtures, posted on Instagram.

“The support you’ve all shown me as I’ve come through the academy and broken into the first team has been amazing. Although the journey is not over yet, as the news of my move breaks I wanted to come on here and express a massive thank you to everyone along the way.

“We’ve still got one massive push until the end of the season and goals to achieve.

“I’ll give my all to the team to make sure we do everything we can to reach them.”

Brighton have attempted to sign Watson in each of the last two transfer windows, offering £2m last summer before seeing an initial bid of £8.5m (plus £4.5m in performance-related add-ons) rejected on deadline day in January.

Talented

But with Watson out of contract in the summer of 2026, Sunderland have now accepted a fee of around £10m, with a 20 per cent sell-on clause inserted into the deal.

Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speak-man said: “Tommy’s a very talented young player, who’s been subject to multiple offers from Premier League clubs over the past two windows, and it’s been well-documented that we’ve declined these approaches with the intent of extending his contract.

“Unfortunately, this has not been possible, and we now believe this agreement represents the best long-term outcome for Sunderland. We are proud of the role we have played in his development and his rise to the first team demonstrates what is possible at the Academy of Light.”