João Pedro (footballer, born 2001)

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

For other uses, see João Pedro.
João Pedro
Personal information
Full name João Pedro Junqueira Jesus[1]
Date of birth (2001-09-26) 26 September 2001
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 Fluminense 29 (5)
2020– Watford 48 (10)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13:51, 21 November 2021 (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 the Copa Sudamericana.[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.

Career statistics
As of 1 November 2021[9]
Club Season League State League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Fluminense 2019 Série A 2544[lower-alpha 1]14[lower-alpha 2]2—4[lower-alpha 3]3—3710
Watford 2019–20 Premier League 30—20—50
2020–21 Championship 389—1010—409
2021–22 Premier League 71—0000—71
Total 4810—301000005210
Career total 731441721043008920
  1. Appearances in the Campeonato Carioca
  2. Appearances in the Copa do Brasil
  3. Appearances in the 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. João Pedro at Soccerway. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
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