Tommy Watson slammed over Sunderland exit news
Tommy Watson will join Brighton at the end of this season, leaving Sunderland just after breaking through at the Stadium of Light.
The 18-year-old has only made 17 senior appearances for the Mackems, notching two goals, but will move down south for £10million.
After Watson’s upcoming transfer was confirmed, the Sunderland winger took to Instagram to share an emotional goodbye message to Black Cats supporters.
His greatest contribution to Regis Le Bris’ men so far came in December when he scored a brace in a 2-1 win over Stoke.
Watson has been criticised over the timing of his confirmed Sunderland exit
Despite saying in his message that he will give everything to help Sunderland return to the Premier League, Watson has been called out over the timing of the move.
| Championship table (top four) | Games played | Goal difference | Points |
| 1 Sheffield Utd | 39 | 27 | 83 |
| 2 Leeds | 39 | 51 | 81 |
| 3 Burnley | 39 | 42 | 81 |
| 4 Sunderland | 39 | 19 | 72 |
BBC Radio Newcastle’s Martin Smith believes the timing proves he was always looking to move, saying: “The fact that it doesn’t even matter to him if we go up, he hasn’t thought, ‘right, I’ll wait until the end of the season, then decide, I could be a Premier League player with Sunderland’, just tells you, he’s wanted away.”
Watson’s exit is a tough one for Sunderland fans to take
Over the years, Sunderland’s illustrious Academy of Light has produced some notable talents, such as England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and current first-team star Chris Rigg.
Watson was seemingly following in the footsteps of the likes of Rigg in paving his way to becoming a first-team star for Le Bris’ men, but he is now set to depart the club, having made very few Championship starts.
The Mackems faithful will be gutted that they will not get to witness Watson’s continuing development next term, while he is set for pastures new at Brighton instead.
Furthermore, as alluded to by Smith, the teenager has not waited to see if he could win promotion with his current club before moving to the Premier League.
If Le Bris’s men win the playoffs this term, Sunderland supporters would have loved to see Watson playing for the North East club in the top-flight next season.
It wasn’t meant to be.