Brighton secures Nigerian talent Zadok Yohanna

Brighton & Hove Albion completed the signing of highly rated Nigerian winger Zadok Yohanna from Swedish side AIK Stockholm on a five-year contract that will keep him at the club until June 2031. The transfer fee was not disclosed, but Brighton confirmed that the move will become official when the transfer window reopens, subject to the usual regulatory approvals.

Yohanna, who turns 19 later this month, had attracted interest from several clubs following his impressive performances in Sweden's top division. Newcastle United joined Brighton in the race for the Nigerian youngster, but the Seagulls ultimately secured his signature.

Brighton believes that Zadok is one of the most exciting young talents in European football after his breakthrough campaign with AIK. Head coach Fabian Hürzeler expressed excitement over the signing, highlighting the winger's attacking qualities. "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," Hürzeler was quoted as saying.

The move represents another major step in Yohanna's rapid rise since joining AIK, where he quickly established himself as an important member of the first team.

Only weeks prior to this signing, the winger earned his first invitation to Nigeria's senior national team for the Unity Cup in London. However, AIK blocked his release, citing rehabilitation concerns and his importance to the team's sporting objectives. At that time, the Swedish club explained that Yohanna was in the final stages of his recovery programme and needed to remain in Sweden rather than join the Super Eagles camp.

This decision was a setback for Nigeria coach Éric Chelle, who had hoped to assess the youngster as part of efforts to strengthen the Super Eagles’ attacking options ahead of future international competitions. Yohanna's move to Brighton offers him the opportunity to continue his development in one of the world’s most competitive leagues, adding another Nigerian talent to the growing list of players making their mark in the English Premier League.