Soccer
Brighton coach Fabian Hurzeler. Copyright: xMIxNewsxImago
Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Fabian Hürzeler has shared his thoughts on the arrival of Nigerian youngster Zadok Yohanna at the club, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Seagulls completed the signing of the highly rated teenager from Swedish side AIK on Saturday, beating competition from fellow Premier League clubs Newcastle United, Chelsea and Manchester City. French side Rennes and Spanish giants Real Madrid were also reportedly interested in securing his signature.
Yohanna only moved abroad from Ikon Allah Academy around a year ago, but he has enjoyed a rapid rise and has now earned a move to one of the top football leagues in the world after registering nine goal contributions in 12 appearances for AIK in 2026.
After completing the transfer on Saturday, Yohanna met with Hürzeler, who offered him some advice ahead of the next stage of his career.
“He told me to keep my head up, keep fighting and continue working hard,” Yohanna said.
Soccer Fabian Hürzeler reveals what Brighton fans should expect from Yohanna
Super Eagles invitee Zadok Yohanna becomes Brighton’s first signing of the summer as the club continues to strengthen its squad ahead of the 2026–27 season, during which the Seagulls will also compete in the UEFA Conference League.
The youngster joins the growing list of Nigerians in the Premier League, alongside players the likes of Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi, and will be hoping to make an immediate impact at the Amex Stadium.
Speaking about the club’s newest signing, Brighton boss Fabian Hürzeler expressed his excitement and highlighted the qualities that attracted the club to the Nigerian youngster.
“I’m looking forward to working with Zadok”, the German told BBC Sport.
“Having seen his games and his attributes, he is a player that can impact games in the final third.”
However, the former St. Pauli coach called for patience with the youngster, but believes his creativity and style of play will quickly make him a favourite among the club’s supporters.
“He’s still young and will need time to adapt to the club and the Premier League, but he’s an exciting player to watch and he brings the kind of creativity we know our fans will enjoy.”
Yohanna becomes the sixth Nigerian player in Brighton’s history and will be looking to impress during the club’s pre-season preparations next month, which could hand him a regular place in Hürzeler’s plans ahead of the new campaign.
Ayomide Oguntimehin
Ayomide Oguntimehin is a CAF-accredited sports journalist and Chief Editor at Soccernet.ng. He has interviewed Super Eagles stars like William Troost-Ekong, Taiwo Awoniyi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, and Ademola Lookman, and is known for breaking major transfer stories.
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, and Milan News24. He holds a Master’s degree and is currently pursuing a PhD. Follow Ayomide on X (formerly Twitter): @ayo_oguntimehin
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