Zadok Yohanna Rejects Lamine Yamal and Olise Comparisons, Claims He Plays Like Riyad Mahrez

Nigerian teenager Zadok Yohanna has made clear which footballing icon he most closely identifies with — and it is not Lamine Yamal or Michael Olise. In a viral TikTok video that has generated significant attention online, the 18-year-old Brighton & Hove Albion winger revealed that his teammates in Nigeria dubbed him “Riyad Mahrez” long before his move to English football.

“My teammates in Nigeria, that’s the name they gave me,” Yohanna said in the video. “They say I dribble like Riyad Mahrez, not even like Lamine Yamal or [Michael] Olise. I dribble like Mahrez, I play like Mahrez, so they gave me the name Riyad Mahrez.”

The remarks surfaced just days after Yohanna completed a £21.5 million transfer from Swedish club AIK Stockholm to Brighton, a move that made him one of the most high-profile Nigerian football exports of the current transfer window. The deal has drawn considerable attention to the youngster, who is viewed as a Super Eagles prospect and a potential future attacking partner for Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman at international level.

Mahrez, the Algerian winger who built his career at Leicester City and Manchester City before moving to Saudi Arabia, is widely regarded as one of the most technically accomplished African players of his generation. His game was defined by close ball control, low centre of gravity, and the ability to beat defenders in confined spaces — traits Yohanna appears to consciously model his own game around. Mahrez is currently part of Algeria’s squad at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

When asked about Mahrez directly in the video, Yohanna was unequivocal in his admiration. “Really good, 100% [underrated],” he said. “They don’t think about him.”

The Brighton official club account shared content related to Yohanna’s arrival on June 6, 2026, further amplifying the attention surrounding the teenager’s move to the Premier League.

Yohanna’s preference for the Mahrez comparison over more contemporary names such as Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal or Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise offers an insight into how the player perceives his own strengths. Rather than positioning himself alongside the game’s current young stars, he aligns himself with a winger known for consistency, craft, and a quietly effective style that took time to receive widespread recognition.

The transfer from AIK Stockholm represents a significant step up in competition for Yohanna, who will now compete in the Premier League, one of the most physically demanding top-flight leagues in the world. Brighton, under their well-established recruitment model, have built a reputation for identifying and developing young talent from across Europe and beyond, with players such as Moises Caicedo and Kaoru Mitoma having used the club as a platform before moves to larger clubs.

Conversations around Yohanna’s international future have already begun among Nigerian football followers, with many supporters eager to see him integrated into the Super Eagles setup. Nigeria’s next major fixture is a 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage match against Senegal, though Yohanna, given his age and recent club move, has not yet been confirmed as part of the squad for the tournament.

At 18, Yohanna remains at the very start of his professional career, and his actual Premier League impact is yet to be determined. However, his £21.5 million valuation and the confidence he has displayed publicly suggest Brighton view him as more than a developmental signing. Whether he can justify comparisons — self-applied or otherwise — to one of Africa’s most decorated wingers will depend entirely on what he produces on the pitch.