Brighton Complete £21.5m Signing of Nigerian Teen Sensation Zadok Yohanna

English Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion have secured the signing of Nigerian youngster Zadok Yohanna from Swedish club AIK Stockholm in a deal reportedly worth £21.5 million, subject to regulatory approval.

The transfer fee makes the 18-year-old the most expensive Nigerian teenager in football 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 Saturday, announcing that Yohanna has agreed to a five-year contract that will keep him at the club until 2031.

The move comes just a year after the Nigerian winger turned professional and sets a new record for 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 about the youngster’s arrival, describing him as an attacking talent capable of making a significant impact.

“I’m looking forward to working with Zadok. Having seen his games and his attributes, he is a player that can impact matches in the final third,” Hurzeler said.

“He’s still young and will need time to adapt to the club and the Premier League, but he is an exciting player to watch. He brings the creativity our fans will enjoy. He’s dynamic, quick, and enjoys taking on defenders. His qualities will strengthen our attacking options.”

Yohanna, who developed at Ikon Allah Academy before moving to Sweden, said Brighton’s reputation for nurturing young talents played a key role in his decision.

“I watch a lot of Premier League football and I know Brighton is one of the clubs that trusts young players,” he said.

“They are very good at developing young talents, and I believe their style of play suits me.”

The Nigerian joined AIK Stockholm last summer and enjoyed a breakthrough campaign, registering five goals and four assists in 18 appearances before sealing his move to the Premier League.