Tom Watson: I'm very impressed with the atmosphere in Leicester City, and I can't wait to start a new chapter here.

Leicester City's new signing Tom Watson says he's ready and looks forward to showcasing his abilities in the team's jersey during his loan spell. The young winger recently joined Leicester City from Brighton on loan for the entire 2026/27 season and hopes to prove his worth through his performances.  

Tom Watson arrived with the team over the weekend and watched Leicester City's final pre-season friendly against Genoa, getting a feel for the team atmosphere and preparing for the new season. The young winger hopes to integrate into the squad quickly and contribute to the team's success. Having previously played at Fairbert Road, he is familiar with the environment and looks forward to adapting quickly with the help of his new teammates.  

In his first interview after joining the club, 20-year-old Tom Watson said: “I’m very happy to be here at Leicester City. I’ve already visited the Segrave training ground, and I was very impressed with the conditions and facilities. Then, when I came to the stadium, I felt its charm again. Now I can’t wait to start my new journey.”  

“At this moment, I truly feel like I’ve become a part of this place. I played here last year, but stepping into this stadium again reminded me of watching Leicester City win the Premier League title when I was a child. It’s really exciting to be able to stand here and start a new journey.”  

Last season was not a smooth one for Tom Watson. Plagued by injuries, he received very limited Premier League playing time with Brighton's first team. He was subsequently loaned to Championship side Millwall in search of more playing time, but the team ultimately failed to advance from the promotion play-offs, missing out on promotion.  

Reflecting on the past year, Tom Watson said: "It has been a challenging year. I had a wonderful time in the promotion play-offs with Sunderland. I scored at Wembley and helped the team get promoted to the Premier League, which was an unforgettable experience. But things didn't go as smoothly as I had hoped."  

"Injuries have had some impact on me, and I haven't had enough playing time, which is why things have been difficult for me lately. But I always believe that as long as I can stay healthy and get consistent playing time and starting opportunities, my goals, assists, and better performances will follow."  

"Besides the size of the club and the head coach's plans, the opportunity to play more games was also a major factor that prompted me to come here. I believe I have the ability to play a role in the team and to earn my place through hard work."  

Speaking about joining Russell Martin's Leicester City, Tom Watson said the team's style of play was a perfect fit for his own, which was one of the key reasons he chose to join. He said, "I met him before at Brighton and we also spoke at the training ground. He made a very good impression on me; he has a very clear vision of the style of football the team wants to play."  

"You'll see that in the team's games later. I've gained a better understanding of his tactical philosophy by watching the team's past matches and talking with some of the players. His coaching style is also one of the important factors that made me choose to join him."  

When discussing his playing style, Tom Watson said, "I primarily play as a left winger, but I can also play on the right, though I personally prefer to operate on the left. I like to actively look for opportunities to attack the defense and create threats through one-on-one breakthroughs, which is an important characteristic of my game."  

“I hope to score more goals through scrambles and second-kick opportunities in matches. I think this is an area where I can further improve, given my physical attributes. The team's attacking style creates many chances, and this pace of the game suits my style very well.”  

Image source: Internet/Leicester City official website