By By Elizabeth Ugbo
Brighton & Hove Albion have signed Nigerian winger Zadok Yohanna from AIK Stockholm for £21.5 million. The deal was announced on Sunday, with the 18-year-old joining the Premier League club on a five-year contract until 2031. Brighton secured the transfer after beating competition from Chelsea and Newcastle United. The move highlights Yohanna’s rapid rise in European football and reinforces Nigeria’s reputation for producing elite football talents.
Brighton Secure Record-Breaking Transfer
English Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion have completed the signing of Nigerian youngster Zadok Yohanna from Swedish side AIK Stockholm.
The transfer is worth £21.5 million. As a result, Yohanna becomes the most expensive player ever transferred from a Scandinavian league to one of Europe’s top leagues.
The Kaduna-born winger only moved to Europe last year. However, his impressive performances quickly attracted interest from several top clubs.
Five-Year Contract Until 2031
Brighton confirmed that Yohanna has signed a five-year contract. The agreement will keep him at the club until 2031.
The teenager will join the club’s first-team squad immediately. Therefore, he could feature in Brighton’s plans for the upcoming Premier League season.
Fabian Hurzeler Excited About New Arrival
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler welcomed the signing and praised the Nigerian’s attacking qualities.
According to Hurzeler, Yohanna possesses the creativity and pace needed to influence games in the final third.
“I’m looking forward to working with Zadok. Having seen his games and his attributes, he is a player that can impact games in the final third.
“He’s still young and will need time to adapt to the club and Premier League, but he’s an exciting player to watch.
“He’s dynamic, has pace and likes to take players on. His attributes and ability will be a real addition to our attacking options.”
Yohanna Chooses Brighton for Development
Yohanna expressed his admiration for the Premier League after completing the move.
He described Brighton as the ideal club for his development. The winger cited the club’s strong reputation for nurturing young talents and helping them reach their potential.
Impressive Rise From Nigeria to Europe
Yohanna graduated from the Ikon Allah Academy before moving to Sweden.
During his time at AIK Stockholm, he scored five goals and registered four assists in 18 appearances.
His performances attracted interest from Chelsea and Newcastle United. Nevertheless, Brighton won the race for his signature.
New Record for Nigerian Teenage Footballers
The transfer also sets a new record for Nigerian football.
At just 18 years old, Yohanna becomes the most expensive Nigerian teenager in football history.
He surpasses the previous benchmark set when John Obi Mikel joined Chelsea from Norwegian club Lyn Oslo in 2006.
Furthermore, the transfer strengthens Nigeria’s growing reputation as a leading producer of world-class football talents capable of succeeding at the highest level in Europe.
