Brighton & Hove Albion have completed the signing of Nigerian winger Zadok Yohanna from Swedish club AIK for a fee of £21.5 million. The 19-year-old has signed a five-year contract at the Amex, adding to a squad sitting third in the Premier League standings with 10 points from five games.

Yohanna’s path to England was secured by AIK chief scout Herish Sadi, who first identified the player at a shows tournament in Kaduna in April 2025. Sadi told AIK’s CEO he was so certain of Yohanna’s potential that he would accept being sacked for free if the move failed. "They didn’t really know what was happening and he didn’t want to tell them anything until everything was done," Sadi said of Yohanna’s family during the transfer process.

From Bauchi to Brighton

Born in Bauchi, north-east Nigeria, Yohanna is one of nine siblings. He joined the Ikon Allah Football Academy in Kaduna at age 11, where founder Ayi Mohammed housed him for six years and nurtured his talent on gravel pitches. Sadi, who has held multiple roles at AIK since 2016, facilitated a $350,000 move for Yohanna to Sweden in June 2025, later helping with visas and diet.

The winger made six Allsvenskan appearances for AIK in 2025, scoring four goals in three games for their under-19 side. He started the 2026 season with two goals and two assists in seven league outings, attracting interest from clubs across Europe’s top five leagues before Brighton’s development pathway won out.

Careful integration planned

Head coach Fabian Hurzeler emphasised a patient approach with his new signing. "It’s a different intensity and different demands, so we have to be very careful with him," Hurzeler said. Yohanna has already made three substitute appearances for Brighton since his debut in August, missing four games with a minor issue. Hurzeler hopes for contributions after the upcoming international break, with the team's next fixtures beginning with an away trip to face 14th-placed Sunderland on October 10.

Sadi, who was present when Yohanna signed at Brighton’s training centre in Lancing, described him as a playmaking winger with excellent one-on-one ability and close control. The emotional moment saw Yohanna break down while trying to phone his mother, who was at work, before eventually speaking to his father.

The Ikon Allah academy, which also produced Nigeria winger Chidera Ejuke, plans to reinvest its FIFA solidarity payment from the transfer into facilities. Yohanna’s brother Benjamin is now among the 250 players at the academy. Brighton’s next challenge is an away trip to face 14th-placed Sunderland on October 10, as they look to maintain their strong early-season form.

The report in full is at The Athletic