Monday, June 8, 2026 - Brighton & Hove Albion have signed Nigerian teenager Zadok Yohanna from Swedish club AIK Stockholm, according to a report by the BBC which values the transfer at £21.5 million, subject to regulatory clearances.
The fee makes Yohanna the most expensive Nigerian teenage
footballer in history, surpassing the approximate £16 million that Chelsea paid
for John Obi Mikel from Lyn Oslo in 2006.
The Premier League club confirmed the signing on their
official website, stating that the former Ikon Allah academy product has agreed
to a five-year contract that runs until 2031. The move arrives just one year
after he turned professional. He now also holds the record for the highest
transfer fee ever paid for a player moving from Scandinavia to a top European
league.
Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler spoke highly of the
18-year-old's talent, expressing confidence that Yohanna will become a valuable
attacking asset for the team, though he acknowledged the youngster will require
some time to settle. "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 added that Brighton's playing style suits his
profile and that joining the club would 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."
Yohanna joined AIK last summer. Before his blockbuster move,
he had scored five goals and provided four assists in 18 matches this season.
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