Brighton Sign 18-Year-Old Nigerian Forward Yohanna From AIK for £21.5m
Brighton Sign 18-Year-Old Nigerian Forward Yohanna From AIK for £21.5m
English Premier League side Brighton have completed the signing of Nigerian youngster Zadok Yohanna from Swedish club AIK Stockholm.
According to BBC, the transfer is worth £21.5 million, subject to regulatory approval.
The deal sets a new record, making him the most expensive Nigerian teenage footballer in history, surpassing the fee Chelsea paid for John Obi Mikel from Lyn Oslo in 2006.
Brighton confirmed the signing on their official website, announcing that the former Ikon Allah academy graduate has signed a five-year contract that will keep him at the club until 2031.
The transfer comes just a year after he turned professional and also sets a new benchmark as the highest fee ever paid for a player moving from Scandinavia to a top European league.
Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler praised the 18-year-old’s abilities and expressed confidence in his potential, while noting that he will need time to adapt to English football.
“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 said.
“He’s still young, and will need time to adapt to the club and Premier League, but he’s an exciting player to watch and he brings the kind of creativity we know our fans will enjoy.
“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 also expressed excitement about the move, stating that Brighton’s style of play aligns with his strengths and will support his development.
“I watch Premier League games a lot, so I know the teams that use young players, and Brighton is one of them,” Yohanna said.
“They are really good at developing young talents, and I think their style of play will fit me a lot.”
The 18-year-old joined AIK last summer and has impressed this season, scoring five goals and providing four assists in 18 appearances before sealing his move to England.
