Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion have completed the signing of Nigerian teenager Zadok Yohanna from Swedish club AIK Stockholm in a deal reportedly worth £21.5 million, subject to regulatory clearances.
According to the BBC, the transfer makes the 18-year-old the most expensive Nigerian teenage footballer in history, surpassing the approximately £16 million Chelsea paid for John Obi Mikel when he joined from Lyn Oslo in 2006.
Brighton confirmed the signing on their official website, announcing that Yohanna has signed a five-year contract that will keep him at the club until 2031.
The move comes just one year after the winger turned professional and also sets a new record as the highest transfer fee paid for a player moving from Scandinavia to one of Europe’s top leagues.
Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler expressed excitement over the arrival of the former Ikon Allah Academy prospect, describing him as a player capable of making a significant impact in attack.
“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,” Hurzeler 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.”
Speaking on his decision to join the Seagulls, Yohanna said Brighton’s commitment to developing young talent played a key role in his choice.
“I watch Premier League games a lot, so I know the teams that use young players, and Brighton is one of them,” he said.
“They are really good at developing young talents, and I think their style of play will fit me a lot.”
- Yohanna joined AIK Stockholm last summer and quickly established himself as one of the club’s brightest prospects. Before securing his move to England, he recorded five goals and four assists in 18 appearances this season.