Fabrizio Romano has revealed a surprise twist involving former Sunderland talent Tommy Watson after his £10 million move to Brighton & Hove Albion. Romano shared that Portuguese giants Porto made a late enquiry about Watson’s availability during the final stages of the transfer window but were informed that he has a significant role to play at Brighton this season. Watson has been called up to the England U21 squad following a strong start to his time on the south coast.
Watson’s journey has been rapid, starting from his time at Sunderland where he progressed through the academy ranks before making his senior debut in April 2023. He signed a new three-year deal with Sunderland after impressing on the field and announced himself with a brace against Stoke City in December 2024. His crowning moment came in May 2025 when he scored a stoppage-time winner in Sunderland’s Championship play-off final against Sheffield United, securing promotion to the Premier League.
Watson’s switch to Brighton followed, where he signed a four-year deal and made an immediate impact by scoring on his debut. His performances have established him as one of the most exciting young English forwards in the country.
In other Sunderland-related news, Alan Browne has completed a season-long loan move to Middlesbrough. Browne, who made 23 appearances for Sunderland last season, cited the opportunity to be closer to home and help a “massive club” in their fight for Premier League promotion as factors that influenced his decision to move. Browne expressed relief and excitement about the move, highlighting the appeal of being near his family and the ambition of helping Middlesbrough achieve their goals.
Browne, a Republic of Ireland international with a decade-long stint at Preston North End before joining Sunderland, emphasized the importance of his previous experiences in shaping his career and expressed his desire to contribute to Middlesbrough’s aspirations of returning to the Premier League. Browne acknowledged the club’s strong start to the season and indicated his readiness to support their efforts on the pitch.
