From Watford to Wembley: Joao Pedro's Remarkable Journey

Joao Pedro is preparing for his first FA Cup final at Wembley against Manchester City on Saturday, and those who knew him during his time at Watford are not surprised by his meteoric rise to become one of Chelsea's most important players.

The 24-year-old Brazilian forward has been in exceptional form this season, scoring 15 Premier League goals - making him the fourth-highest scorer in the league behind Erling Haaland, Igor Thiago, and Antoine Semenyo. Unlike those three, none of his strikes have come from the penalty spot. He has broken the 20-goal barrier for all competitions, including one of the best goals of 2025-26: a spectacular overhead kick in a 3-1 defeat against Nottingham Forest this month.

Early Days at Watford

Joao Pedro arrived in England as a raw teenager in January 2020, having agreed to join Watford from Rio de Janeiro side Fluminense. The deal was put in place when he was still just 16, but due to transfer regulations, he had to wait until he turned 18 to complete it.

Former Tottenham Hotspur and Brazil goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, who was at Watford during that time, played a crucial role in helping him adapt to life in England.

"He could not speak any English," Gomes tells The Athletic. "I found a place for him to live, and I used to pick him up at his house to take him to training. I would talk to him on our journeys about football, but also where to buy Brazilian foods and the best Brazilian restaurants. I also helped translate for the coach. I was very close to him. I saw him as a son."

Gomes recalls that the only issue was the young forward's impatience to play: "Sometimes the manager would leave him out of the squad. That was very hard for him. The club's idea was to prepare him. He was well-liked but physically, he was light. The club wanted him to build more muscles. English football is very tough physically. But he felt he was ready to play from the first minute."

A Winning Mentality

What set Joao Pedro apart from an early age was his winning mentality - something that is not always associated with Brazilian players, according to Gomes.

"The thing about Joao is, he is one of the few players I saw with a winning mentality from the start," Gomes said. "Brazilians love to play football but sometimes we struggle with that part. But he was different. Not only did he have the quality — it was different class — but mentality-wise, he was prepared for the new challenge."

Former Watford manager Slaven Bilic, who gave Joao Pedro the nickname "the Michael Jordan of the team," remembers a conversation during the 2022 World Cup in Spain.

"I turned to Joao and told him, 'You have a quality to play for Brazil very soon'. He didn't say, 'Oh no, no no'. He was like, 'Yes, yes, yes. That's my ambition'. I was surprised, in a positive way, how assured, how focused he was," Bilic recalled.

Challenges at Watford

Despite his obvious talent, Joao Pedro's time at Watford was not without challenges. He played under 10 head coaches in three and a half years and suffered two relegations from the Premier League. One of those was under former England head coach Roy Hodgson in 2022.

"You could see the qualities which made him a star," Hodgson says. "His awareness was very good, finding time and space. Technically, he showed his skills. It was obvious, if he continued to improve at the rate he was, it would not take him long for it to pay off and lift him to the level where he is today."

Bilic made Joao Pedro captain when he was available, seeing leadership qualities in the young Brazilian.

"He has leadership quality," Bilic says. "You might think he would leave after Watford got relegated a second time, but he stayed. You can see at Chelsea, he never moans. I think the Championship helped him with that. There are so many tough games. It is not spectacular. He was never complaining. He never looked for excuses."

Chelsea's Number Nine

Watford's struggles meant Joao Pedro spent two seasons with them in the Championship before Brighton and Hove Albion bought him for just under £30 million in June 2023. His impressive form there (30 goals, 10 assists) caught Chelsea's attention, and he made the switch to Stamford Bridge.

Dan Gosling, now part of Watford's first-team coaching staff, saw his potential up close during training sessions.

"When I started training, that is when I saw the best of him," Gosling says. "Some of the stuff he would do, he was just on a different level to everyone, even at such a young age. He has this ability to get away from people, and it is not because he is blisteringly quick. It is his game intelligence which sets him apart."

Gling added: "He is not fazed. Playing in big games for Chelsea or leading the line for Brazil... it's his natural habitat. He is a world-class player and he has proved it. He is only getting better and has another level to go."

World Cup Dream Beckons

Joao Pedro's remarkable rise has been recognized by Brazil's national team selectors. He was named in Brazil's provisional 55-man World Cup squad this week and, having won eight caps, is expected to make the final cut for this summer's tournament in North America.

Bilic compared him to some of the greatest players he has managed, including Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic, and Mario Mandzukic.

"I managed some great players in the Croatia national team and various football clubs. Joao is up there with them," Bilic said.

As Joao Pedro prepares for the FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday, Gomes believes he will rise to the occasion.

"I can see him telling the others this is a chance to change the end of Chelsea's season," Gomes says. "I hope this is an opportunity to send him another message."

For Chelsea, who haven't won the FA Cup since 2018, Joao Pedro will be key to ending that drought - continuing a journey that started with a raw teenager at Watford and has led him to the biggest stage in English football.