Thomas Watson (born 8 April 2006) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for club Millwall, on loan from club Brighton & Hove Albion.
Born in Horden, Watson first joined the Sunderland academy at the Under-9 level.
On 18 April 2023, Watson made his professional debut for Sunderland, appearing as a substitute in the EFL Championship against Huddersfield Town. Despite a back injury hampering his ability to feature at the start of the 2023âÂÂ24 season, Watson signed a new three-year contract with Sunderland in September 2023.
On 7 December 2024, Watson scored the first league goals of his professional career in a 2âÂÂ1 EFL Championship win for Sunderland against Stoke City.
On 1 April 2025, Watson was announced as a signing for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion for a ã10m fee, officially joining the club at the start of the forthcoming transfer window. A month later, on 24 May, he came off the bench and scored a stoppage-time winner to complete a 2âÂÂ1 comeback win over Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final, securing Sunderland's return to the Premier League for the first time since 2017.
On 1 June 2025, Watson joined Brighton & Hove Albion, signing a contract until June 2029. He scored on his debut, coming off the bench to add Brighton's sixth of the evening in their 6âÂÂ0 away win over Oxford United in the EFL Cup.
On 1 February 2026, Watson joined EFL Championship club Millwall on loan until end of 2025-26 season.
Watson made his England U17 debut in January 2023. That same month he scored his first England U17 goal in a 6âÂÂ0 win over Germany U17.
Watson made his England U18 debut during a 1âÂÂ1 draw with Belgium in Marbella on 11 October 2023.
Watson was included in the England U19 squad for the 2025 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. He made a goalscoring debut for that age group during a 3âÂÂ1 warm-up win over Iceland at St George's Park National Football Centre on 6 June 2025. Watson also scored a goal in their opening game of the tournament against Norway.
In September 2025, Watson made his debut for England U21 as a substitute in their opening qualifying match against Kazakhstan.
Watson is noted for his pace and directness.
Sunderland