{"id":263891,"date":"2026-09-22T07:10:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T07:10:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/22\/west-brom-and-norwich-may-have-signed-the-championships-new-joao-pedro\/"},"modified":"2026-09-22T07:10:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T07:10:15","slug":"west-brom-and-norwich-may-have-signed-the-championships-new-joao-pedro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/22\/west-brom-and-norwich-may-have-signed-the-championships-new-joao-pedro\/","title":{"rendered":"West Brom and Norwich may have signed the Championship’s new Joao Pedro"},"content":{"rendered":"

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West Bromwich Albion<\/a> and Norwich City<\/a> are just a few of a number of clubs who have had relatively recent experiences in the Premier League and are fighting to get back to the top-flight.<\/p>\n

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It is easy to fade away in the Championship and rarely compete at either end of the pitch, even with recent Premier League history. Just ask Queens Park Rangers or Stoke City.<\/p>\n

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James Morrison and Philippe Clement are looking to lead their respective teams back to the top division, though, and having difference-making attackers will be key to any promotion push.<\/p>\n

There have been plenty of talented centre-forwards to come through the Championship in recent years, and perhaps none more talented than former Watford star Joao Pedro.<\/p>\n

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\n Joao Pedro’s journey to becoming one of the Premier League’s best strikers<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

The Brazilian striker joined the Hornets from Fluminense whilst they were in the Premier League in January 2020, but he only played 22 minutes in the top-flight before they were relegated to the Championship.<\/p>\n

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\"joao-pedro-watford\"\n <\/picture>Action Images\/Ed Sykes<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

In the 2020\/21 campaign, Joao Pedro racked up nine goals and two assists in 38 appearances in the second tier to earn promotion back to the big time.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, he only scored three goals in 28 matches in the Premier League as Watford were sent straight back down to the Championship, but that experience helped him to star for the club in the 2022\/23 season.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

22\/23 Championship<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Joao Pedro<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\n

Appearances<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

35<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Goals<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

11<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Minutes per goal<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

234<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Big chances missed<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Big chances created<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Assists<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Ground duel success rate<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

54%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Aerial duel success rate<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

48%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

Joao Pedro delivered consistent quality for Watford in the second tier with 19 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in 35 appearances, which earned him a move to Brighton that summer.<\/p>\n

After scoring 30 goals and providing ten assists in 70 matches for the Seagulls, Chelsea swooped to sign the Brazil international for a fee of \u00a360m in the summer of 2025.<\/p>\n

Since signing for the Blues, the 24-year-old talent has scored 26 goals and supplied 12 assists in 58 appearances, including three goals and three assists in four Premier League games this term.<\/p>\n

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\n West Brom and Norwich have their own versions of Joao Pedro<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

Joao Pedro is currently top of the Premier League charts for goals and assists combined (six) and he became one of the top forwards in the division by gaining experience in the Championship.<\/p>\n

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\"Chelsea's\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/Hollie Adams<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Now, Norwich and West Brom both boast centre-forwards who already look like they are on their way to becoming the Championship’s next version of the Brazilian striker.<\/p>\n

In the summer transfer window, the Baggies agreed a fee of up to \u00a35m to sign Jimmy-Jay Morgan from Chelsea, and he has hit the ground running at The Hawthorns.<\/p>\n

The England U20 international has scored three goals from 1.87 xG and provided three assists for his teammates in eight appearances in the league this season, showcasing a Joao Pedro-esque ability to score and create goals from a number nine position.<\/p>\n