Nigerian forward Zadok Yohanna has made a record move to Brighton and Hove Albion from AIK Fotboll in Sweden. This transfer makes him the most expensive player ever sold from the Swedish league, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.
The 18-year-old has signed a five-year deal with Brighton, which will keep him at the Premier League club until June 2031. The transfer fee is reported to be an initial €28m (£24.2m) with an additional €2m (£1.8m) in bonuses.
The transfer will be finalized when the window opens on June 15, pending regulatory approvals.
Yohanna’s signing is the first for Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler this summer. He breaks the previous Swedish league transfer record held by Lucas Bergvall, who moved from Djurgarden to Tottenham Hotspur in 2024 for €20m.
Yohanna had a short but impressive time at AIK, where he made 18 appearances in the Swedish Allsvenskan and Svenska Cupen. He scored five goals and provided four assists. Notably, he scored twice in a 4-0 win over BK Hacken in the Svenska Cupen in March. He also contributed to five goals in seven top-flight games in 2026.
Brighton beat competition from Chelsea and Newcastle United, who reportedly made a formal offer for the talented player before Brighton secured his signature.
Yohanna began his football career at Ikon Allah Academy in Nigeria before moving to Sweden in June 2025. He started with AIK’s Under-19 team, scoring four goals in three games before moving up to the senior team.
Hurzeler shared his excitement about signing the young player. He said, “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. 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.”
Yohanna called the move a dream come true. He said, “Almost a year ago, a dream came true when I signed my first first-team contract with AIK. From my first day at AIK, I have enjoyed every second, but now another dream has also come true. Even though I am now leaving AIK, I will always carry with me what the club has meant to me and my development both as a footballer and a person. Thanks to all the players, managers and supporters who have supported me.”
AIK’s Head of Recruitment, Miika Takkula, praised Yohanna and stated that the transfer fits the club’s long-term vision. He said, “It has been a great honour to have worked with Zadok. We will be excited to follow his continued career. Brighton offers a development environment that benefits Zadok and, in the long term, also AIK. Our vision and the strategies we have worked on remain unchanged.”
Yohanna joins Brighton shortly after club legend Solly March confirmed his exit after 13 years at the Amex Stadium.
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