New Brighton signing Zadok Yohanna has revealed why he chose the Seagulls ahead of Chelsea and Newcastle United after completing his record breaking move from Swedish side AIK Stockholm.
The highly-rated Nigerian winger joined Brighton in a deal worth an initial €28 million (£21.5 million), with a further €2 million in performance related bonuses, making him the most expensive sale in the history of Sweden’s Allsvenskan league.
Yohanna signed a long term contract until June 2031 after Brighton emerged victorious from a fierce transfer battle involving several top European clubs.
Yohanna Zadok signing for Brighton. PhotoCredit: Brighton
Chelsea and Newcastle both attempted late moves to hijack the deal, while German side RB Leipzig were also credited with strong interest in the teenager.
Despite the competition, Yohanna says Brighton’s reputation for developing young players ultimately convinced him to move to the south coast.
“I watch Premier League games a lot, so I know the teams that use young players, and Brighton is one of them,” Yohanna said.
“They are really good at developing young talents, and I think their style of play will fit me a lot.”
READMORE: NLO slams Green Beret with two-year ban after bloody attack on match officials
The 18-year-old arrives in England after a breakthrough spell at AIK, where his pace, dribbling ability and creativity quickly established him as one of Scandinavia’s most exciting young prospects.
He scored two goals and provided three assists in 10 league appearances this season before attracting interest from clubs across Europe.
Yohanna also admitted that leaving AIK was an emotional moment after the role the Swedish club played in his development.
“I had a lot of good people around me who took care of me. Everyone loved me, so it was difficult to leave,” he said.
Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler was another key factor behind the move.
According to Yohanna, conversations with the German manager reinforced his belief that Brighton offered the ideal environment for his long-term growth.
“He urged me to keep fighting and working hard. I will give everything I have and I really want to win trophies with the team.”
The transfer saga gathered momentum in recent weeks as Brighton, Newcastle and Chelsea battled for the winger’s signature.
Newcastle reportedly increased their offer in an attempt to overturn Brighton’s early advantage, while Chelsea entered negotiations late as they looked to add another elite young talent to their project.
However, Brighton responded decisively by improving their proposal and convincing both AIK and the player that their development pathway was the best fit.
Pingback: Super Eagles star Akor Adams addresses exit rumours amid €18m Marseille links - The Athletic NG