Tommy Watson expected to leave Brighton on loan with Championship likely | OneFootball

Tommy Watson is expected to leave Brighton on loan again this summer to secure regular senior football. Sunderland Echo understands a Championship move is seen as a likely route for the 20-year-old.

Brighton signed the former Sunderland winger for around £10million last year and gave him a long-term deal, but a full season of games is now viewed as key to his development.

His first campaign was mixed. He made 10 appearances for Brighton in the first half of 2025-26, scoring on debut in a 6-0 EFL Cup win over Oxford United, then moved to Millwall in February and played 12 times.

Competition for wide roles at the Amex is intense and could grow by the end of the window. Kaoru Mitoma has 12 months left on his contract, Ibrahim Osman impressed in spells, and Diego Gomez is another left-sided option.

Horden-born Watson came through Sunderland’s academy and debuted against Huddersfield Town in April 2023. A back injury hampered early 2023-24, yet he signed a new three-year deal that September.

He broke through in 2024-25, scoring his first league goals in a 2-1 win over Stoke City. Brighton sealed a deal in April 2025, and he later hit the stoppage-time winner in the 2-1 play-off final against Sheffield United at Wembley, sealing Sunderland’s return to the Premier League for the first time since 2017.

He has represented England at multiple youth levels, making his under-21 debut in September 2025 and receiving an under-20 call-up during his Millwall spell.

Source: Sunderland Echo