Brighton transfer update: Why Zadok Yohanna is poised to succeed in the Premier League

Former Super Eagles and Malmö forward Peter Ijeh has commented on Zadok Yohanna’s move to Brighton & Hove Albion from Swedish club AIK, according to Afrik‑Foot.

The 18‑year‑old has attracted interest from several of Europe’s top clubs in recent weeks, following his rapid rise in Sweden.

Brighton outbid Newcastle United, Chelsea and Manchester City to secure the services of the highly‑rated Nigerian youngster on Saturday.

Real Madrid, Rennes and several Bundesliga sides had also previously shown interest in signing the highly‑rated teenager.

Nigeria youngster Zadok Yohanna. Copyright: xPhilipxKangasx/ IMAGO

Brighton will pay a fixed fee of €28 million to AIK, with an additional €2 million in add‑ons, making Yohanna the most expensive sale in Swedish league history. The Super Eagles invitee will complete his registration when the transfer window opens on June 15, joining the growing list of Nigerians playing in the Premier League.

Peter Ijeh reacts to Yohanna’s move to Brighton

Yohanna will now become the sixth Nigerian to represent Brighton, following in the footsteps of Leon Balogun and Ade Akinbiyi, and will aim to make his own mark at the club.

The youngster was playing for Ikon Allah Academy in Nigeria as recently as last year before moving abroad for the first time to join AIK in Sweden. Just months later, he is preparing to play in one of the world’s most competitive leagues.

Brighton new signing Yohanna. Copyright: EMMAxWALLSKOG/IMAGO

Reacting to the move, former Nigerian international Ijeh, who enjoyed a successful career in Sweden, praised Yohanna’s remarkable rise and described the transfer as a major achievement.

“Zadok Yohanna moving from a Nigerian academy team to Swedish club AIK Stockholm and going on to sign a five‑year contract with Brighton & Hove Albion is great and good move for the lad and everyone involved,” the former Malmö star said, via Footy‑Africa.

“The transfer is a very profound one, based on performative acts and dominance in the Swedish Allsvenskan league and season. The Sweden’s Allsvenskan league has always been a launch pad and a quick link to big teams in Europe.”

Yohanna backed to shine in Premier League

Nigerian youngster Zadok Yohanna enjoyed a sensational spell at AIK, where he scored five times and provided four assists in 12 games across all competitions in 2026 and has now earned him a move to Brighton less than a year after arriving in Sweden.

Ijeh is of the opinion that the teenager possesses the qualities needed to succeed in English football and pointed to his fearless attacking style as a major reason why he can thrive in the Premier League.

“His style of play is attacking and fearless, taking on defenders or creating over‑coverage situations for the opposite team that gives his own team a numerical superiority in other positions. He must continue in that talented area and make it his specialty. In order to add to his skill…he must always train to be in continuous flexibility and agility and purposeful,” Ijeh concluded.

Zadok Yohana signs for Brighton and Hove Albion. (Photo credit: Brighton/X)

Yohanna will now look to impress Brighton head coach Fabian Hürzeler during pre‑season as he targets a regular place in the first team next season.

The Seagulls will also compete in Europe after securing qualification for the UEFA Conference League with an eighth‑placed finish last season.

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Ayomide Oguntimehin

Editor Site Coordinator

Ayomide Oguntimehin is a CAF‑accredited sports journalist and Editor at Soccernet.ng & Afrik Foot. Ayomide has worked with Sports Brief, Naija News and served as Social Lead Editor at Legit.ng. He has also featured on Goal, TVC News, Sports Mole, Topmercato, and Milan News24, among others. He holds a master’s degree and is currently pursuing a PhD. Follow Ayomide on X: @ayo_oguntimehin.