João Pedro (footballer, born 2001)

For other uses, see João Pedro.

João Pedro Junqueira Jesus (born 26 September 2001), known as João Pedro, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL Championship club Watford.

João Pedro

Personal information
Full name	João Pedro Junqueira Jesus^[1]
Date of birth	(2001-09-26) 26 September 2001 (age 21)
Place of birth	Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Club information
Current team	Watford
Number	10
Youth career
2011–2019	Fluminense
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–2020	Fluminense	29	(5)
2020–	Watford	89	(20)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 December 2022 (UTC)

Early and personal life

João Pedro was born in Ribeirão Preto to parents Flavia Junqueira and José João de Jesus, more commonly known as Chicão, a professional footballer for Botafogo. Chicão was jailed for sixteen years in 2002, serving eight, for being an accessory to murder. By the time of Chicão's imprisonment, he and Junqueira had separated.^[2]

Career

João Pedro joined the youth system of Fluminense, and his mother moved with him to Rio de Janeiro. As he moved through the club's academy he switched from being a defensive midfielder, like his father, to an attacking midfielder, and then a striker.^[2] On 19 October 2018, before he had even made his senior debut, Premier League club Watford agreed a deal to sign João Pedro in January 2020 on a five-year contract.^[3] On 28 March 2019, João Pedro made his senior debut for Fluminense as a stoppage-time substitute in a 2–1 loss to arch-rivals Flamengo in the Campeonato Carioca.^[4] A month later on 29 April, he made his league debut as a late substitute in the 1–0 loss to Goiás.^[5] He then proceeded to fire seven goals in his next four games, including a hat trick in a 4–1 Copa Sudamericana victory against Atlético Nacional.^[6]

On 30 October 2019, it was announced that he had received his UK work permit and would sign for Watford in January 2020.^[7] He scored his first goal for Watford in a 1–0 win over Luton Town on 26 September 2020,^[8] his 19th birthday. He then scored a long-range goal on 16 October 2020 in Watford's win over Derby County.

João Pedro scored his first Premier League goal against Manchester United on 20 November 2021. He dedicated the goal to his late stepfather, Carlos Junior. On 15 January 2022, João Pedro scored the equalizer against Newcastle United in the 88th minute. The match ended in a 1–1 draw.^[9]

Career statistics

As of 26 December 2022^[10]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			State league^[a]		National cup^[b]		League cup^[c]		Continental		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Fluminense	2019	Série A	25	4	4	1	4	2	—		4^[d]	3	37	10
	Total		25	4	4	1	4	2	0	0	4	3	37	10
Watford	2019–20	Premier League	3	0	—		2	0	0	0	—		5	0
	2020–21	Championship	38	9	—		1	0	1	0	—		40	9
	2021–22	Premier League	28	3	—		1	1	0	0	—		29	4
	2022–23	Championship	20	8	—		0	0	0	0	—		20	8
	Total		89	20	—		4	1	1	0	—		94	21
Career total			114	24	4	1	8	3	1	0	4	3	131	31

1. Includes Campeonato Carioca
2. Includes Copa do Brasil, FA Cup
3. Includes EFL Cup
4. Appearances in Copa Sudamericana

References

1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Watford" (PDF). English Football League. p. 73. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
2. "The Joao Pedro story: Tragedy, tears and a special talent". The Athletic. 29 November 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
3. "Official: Hornets Agree Pedro Signing". Watford. 19 October 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
4. "FLUMINENSE 1 - 2 FLAMENGO". int.soccerway.com. 28 March 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
5. "FLUMINENSE VS. GOIÁS 0 - 1". int.soccerway.com. 29 April 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
6. "Joao Pedro: The Watford-bound striker on a hot streak for Fluminense". Sky Sports. 29 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
7. "Watford teenager Joao Pedro granted work permit year after signing". BBC Sport. 29 October 2019.
8. "Watford 1-0 Luton". BBC. 26 September 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
9. "Watford snatch late draw at Newcastle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
10. João Pedro at Soccerway. Retrieved 9 April 2019.

External links

• João Pedro at Soccerway