How Tommy Watson has proved star potential and exemplary mindset to West Brom

Tommy Watson would be arriving at West Bromwich Albion as an unrefined talent, but one keen to improve.

West Brom's early-window transfer pace has slowed in recent weeks, with goalkeeper Matt Ingram being the latest arrival on 24 June.

Albion have put a clear focus on signing young talent this summer though, with Barney Stewart (22), Jimmy-Jay Morgan (20) and Carter Pinnington (19) respectively making up their other pieces of incoming business so far.

Watson, 20, signed for Brighton in April last year in a £10million move from Sunderland, landing him a dream move to a top Premier League side.

The winger has made 10 competitive appearances for the Seagulls so far, who are renowned as a Club who know a promising young player when they see one.

Watson's time in the Championship, particularly with Sunderland, has offered a clear glimpse into the player he could become and why West Brom appear sweet on signing him this summer.

Tommy Watson was among Championship's most dangerous at Sunderland

West Brom News has been following West Brom's reported interest in a loan deal for Watson throughout the summer.

Penning a deal with Brighton until the summer of 2029, he's a player they're going to take their time with, and seem to want to get as much experience into his young boots as possible at this stage of his career.

That was evidenced by their decision to loan him out to Millwall for the second half of last season, where he played 12 times but failed to provide a single goal contribution of any kind.

Making his first-team debut for Sunderland in the 2022-23 campaign, it wouldn't be until the 2024-25 season where Watson truly burst onto the scene at the Stadium of Light.

He played 22 times in all competitions for the Black Cats that term, with 21 of those coming in the Championship.

Watson of course forever wrote his name into Sunderland folklore by scoring a 95th-minute winner in the Championship play-off final to secure a 2-1 win over Sheffield United, and his team's place back in the Premier League.

Aside from that crowning moment though, Watson's impact was felt in games throughout that season, as evidenced by his underlying numbers.

As per FotMob, his 1.31 clearances per 90 ranked him in the top 1.9 percentile of all Championship left wingers in 2024-25.

Meanwhile, his 6.37 touches in the opposition box placed him in the top 6.8 per cent of his positional rivals, whilst his 2.63 shots, 0.10 headed shots, 1.11 successful crosses and 1.92 fouls won per 90 all ranked amongst the very best in the division.

However, he did also rank in the bottom 35.4 per cent for his 18.1 successful passes per game, as well as being in the lower 15.5 per cent for his 2.33 times dispossessed per game average respectively.

Watson also placed in the bottom 16.1 percentile for his 0.30 possessions won in the final third per game, and delivered a cross success rate of just 20 per cent.

So, James Morrison would clearly have some work to do getting Watson's all-round game up to scratch, and he could excite as much as he does frustrate The Hawthorns faithful if he was to sign.

But, whilst on the surface his time at West Brom last season may look disappointing, when you lift the lid, his hidden numbers actually help to paint an even more exciting picture if you're Albion.

Why Watson took strides with Millwall

Being a young player is all about development, and identifying your weaknesses and putting an emphasis on improving them.

Some youngsters can lose track of that, and simply want to focus on what they do well and don't have much interest in fixing the holes in their game.

That's not the case with Watson, as he proved during his few months with Millwall last season.

As per FotMob, he boosted his crossing success rate from 20 per cent in 2024-25 to 30 per cent in 2025-26, which was good enough to put him among the best left wingers in the Championship.

His long ball accuracy went from 30.8 per cent to 50 per cent, and his big chances created per game rose from 0.20 to 0.37 times per 90 respectively.

Meanwhile, his recoveries per game made a big leap from 3.34 in 2024-25 to 5.60 last term, as did his interceptions per 90, with that going from 0.51 to 0.75 respectively.

Watson also won far more aerial duels per game with Millwall than he did in his final season at Sunderland, going from 0.20 wins per 90 to 1.12 in 2025-26.

So, Watson is clearly a hard-working young player with a genuine appetite to improve in all aspects of his game, and whilst it would be somewhat of a gamble for West Brom, he's a player the Baggies should bet on to succeed.