Brighton sign Nigerian teenager in record £21.5m deal

Brighton & Hove Albion have completed the signing of Nigerian winger Zadok Yohanna from Swedish club AIK in a record five-year contract worth £21.5 million.

The 18-year-old will remain at the Premier League club until June 2031 after Brighton agreed to the sumptuous deal.

The deal is reported to be worth £21.5 million, made up of a €28 million guaranteed fee and €2 million in performance-related add-ons.

The transfer makes Yohanna the most expensive player ever sold by a Swedish club, surpassing the previous record set by Lucas Bergvall following his move to Tottenham Hotspur.

Brighton fought off competition from several clubs, including Newcastle United, Chelsea, Manchester City, and RB Leipzig, to secure the winger’s signature.

Yohanna was developed at the Ikon Allah Football Academy in Nigeria before moving to AIK in 2025.

His rapid rise continued in Sweden, where he established himself as one of the league’s brightest young talents and earned a call-up to the Super Eagles.

Before completing the move, the teenager recorded five goals and four assists in 12 appearances across all competitions during the 2026 season.

He was also recognised for his direct attacking style, pace, and dribbling ability.

Brighton head coach Fabian Hürzeler said: “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 and he brings the kind of creativity we know our fans will enjoy.”

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In his first interview after the move, Yohanna said Brighton’s reputation for developing young players influenced his decision to choose the club ahead of other interested sides.

The deal will be formally completed when the summer transfer window opens on June 15.

His arrival continues Brighton’s strategy of investing in emerging talents with high development potential, while giving Nigerian football another representative in England’s top flight.

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