Brighton Sign Nigerian Winger Zadok Yohanna on Five-Year Deal, Beating Man City, Chelsea and Newcastle

Brighton & Hove Albion have secured one of the most hotly contested signings of the summer window, confirming the arrival of Nigerian winger Zadok Yohanna from Swedish top-flight side AIK. The Seagulls won a four-club race that included Premier League heavyweights Manchester City, Chelsea, and Newcastle United.

According to Pulse Sports, Brighton announced the deal through their official channels, confirming Yohanna has signed a five-year contract that will keep him at the club until 2031. Financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed by the club.

Yohanna, who turns 18, operates as a right winger and was among the most sought-after young talents in the current transfer window. His rapid rise through the football pyramid has drawn widespread attention — as recently as last year, he was playing for Nigerian academy side Ikon Allah before making the move to AIK in Sweden’s Allsvenskan.

Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler confirmed the club’s intent to integrate Yohanna into the first-team setup and spoke openly about his anticipation of working with the teenager. “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 told the club’s official website.

The signing is consistent with Brighton’s well-established recruitment model, which has long focused on identifying and developing high-potential players from emerging markets before integrating them into competitive first-team environments. The club’s track record in this area — having previously developed and profitably sold players such as Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister — gives credibility to their ability to maximise Yohanna’s development.

Yohanna is eligible to represent Nigeria’s Super Eagles at international level, and his profile will likely attract the attention of the Nigerian Football Federation as he continues to develop. Nigeria are among the African nations with representation across Europe’s top leagues, and Yohanna’s move to the Premier League adds another name to that growing pool.

At club level, Brighton will be looking to Yohanna as a long-term contributor in the final third. Hurzeler’s comments suggest the teenager will not be loaned out immediately, though the club has yet to confirm whether he will feature in pre-season preparations ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

The capture of Yohanna over rivals of the stature of Manchester City and Chelsea underlines Brighton’s continued appeal as a destination for young talent, particularly those seeking regular pathways to first-team football rather than the uncertainty that often accompanies signings at larger clubs.