Derby County eye loan move for £10m play-off hero Tommy Watson
Derby County have reportedly emerged as one of several clubs interested in securing a loan deal for Brighton & Hove Albion winger Tommy Watson as the Rams continue to strengthen their squad ahead of the new Championship campaign.
According to reports from the Sunderland Echo, Derby have officially registered their interest in the highly-rated 20-year-old, who became a Sunderland hero after scoring a dramatic stoppage-time winner against Sheffield United in the 2025 Championship play-off final at Wembley. His decisive goal secured Sunderland’s long-awaited return to the Premier League and cemented his place in the club’s recent history.
Watson’s impressive performances during his breakthrough campaign convinced Brighton to complete a deal worth around £10 million before that memorable Wembley victory. The Seagulls viewed the winger as one of England’s brightest young talents and rewarded him with a long-term contract as part of their plans for the future.
However, his first season on the south coast did not go as expected. Opportunities in Brighton’s first team proved limited, with Watson making just six Premier League appearances, all coming from the bench. In search of valuable experience and regular minutes, Brighton sanctioned a loan move to Championship side Millwall during the second half of the season.
Unfortunately, the spell at The Den failed to provide the breakthrough he had hoped for, as he struggled to establish himself as a regular starter. Those close to the player are now believed to feel that his next temporary move will be crucial for his development, with consistent first-team football considered the priority.
Derby are not alone in the race for Watson’s signature. West Ham United, West Bromwich Albion, Preston North End and Leicester City have also been credited with monitoring the winger’s situation, setting up what could become a competitive battle if Brighton decide to approve another loan move.
The Rams are particularly keen to reinforce their options out wide after seeing both Ben Brereton Díaz and Jaydon Banel return to their parent clubs following the end of last season. Their departures have left Derby searching for additional attacking quality capable of providing creativity, pace and goals from the wings.
So far, Derby’s only permanent signing has been Bobby Clark. Although Clark is capable of operating in wide areas, he is expected to feature primarily as an attacking midfielder, leaving room for another specialist winger to arrive before the transfer window closes.
Brighton continue to rate Watson highly despite his difficult first campaign and are understood to believe he remains an important part of the club’s long-term plans. Any move away from the Amex Stadium is therefore expected to be on a temporary basis, allowing the youngster to gain valuable Championship experience before returning to compete for a place in Brighton’s senior squad.
Should Derby succeed in bringing Watson to Pride Park, they would be adding one of the Championship’s most exciting young attacking talents, with hopes that regular football could help him rediscover the form that made him a Wembley hero and one of English football’s most promising prospects.
