Brighton’s decision to spend a club-record €28 million on Nigerian teenager Zadok Yohanna was no gamble.
That is the view of AIK technical director Peter Wennberg, who believes the 18-year-old has the qualities to thrive in the Premier League if he is given time to develop.
Yohanna completed a move to Brighton this week, signing a five-year contract until 2031 after a remarkable rise from Ikon Allah Football Academy in Kaduna to one of Europe’s most sought-after young talents.
The winger only joined AIK from Nigeria in June 2025 but quickly established himself as one of the brightest prospects in Swedish football, attracting interest from several top clubs across Europe.
More Read
Wennberg revealed that AIK’s head of scouting, Herish Sadi, identified Yohanna during a scouting trip to Nigeria and immediately recognised his potential.
“Herish Sadi (AIK’s head of scouting) was the first one who discovered him in Nigeria in the spring of 2025. I remember him calling me from Nigeria, and he said, ‘Peter, I’ve found a really special one’,” Wennberg said.
“Sadi sent me a video. We were talking about his lateral movement, his ball control is so smooth, it’s those nerdy things that you need to feel it when you’re seeing it.
“Full ball control. Under pressure, when he’s turned, when he’s on the line dribbling, when he’s close to the box, at high speed. At low speed, he can go from 0 to 100 in a really short movement. He can be tricky. He can go inside or outside. He’s unpredictable to read for the opponent.
“When he lost the ball, he also had the right reaction. He wants to close gaps and recover the ball. And when you have those two things, it’s going to end up special.”
After initially featuring for AIK’s under-19 side, Yohanna’s development accelerated rapidly and he earned promotion to the first team, making his senior debut in August 2025.
Although he failed to score in six appearances during the 2025 campaign, the Nigerian exploded into life this season, registering nine goal contributions in 12 matches across all competitions.
Wennberg believes AIK’s commitment to youth development played a major role in Yohanna’s emergence.
“Those changes helped our high-potential players, and Zadok bloomed out of it. That is the DNA of AIK, to work with potential,” he said.
“Having some time to adapt helped, but also the coaching setup and sporting director changed, and AIK went back to its DNA.”
Despite Yohanna’s rapid rise, the AIK chief urged Brighton supporters to remain patient with the teenager as he adjusts to life in England.
“The only thing that helps Brighton, AIK, Zadok, and everybody else is patience,” he said. “Trust the potential, trust the process, then it’s going to end up really good.
“When they come here, we’re not surprised to see them deliver on their potential. I am not surprised it worked out for Zadok; it was part of the plan.”
Wennberg believes Brighton’s style of play is ideally suited to the Nigerian, who can operate as a No. 10 or an inverted right winger.
“If you allow him to be in free spaces, in the pocket, outside the opponent, and down near the corner flag, he can move the ball with pace and sting like a cobra. When he gets up to full pace, he can win you a free kick a lot of the time.
“He can pass and move, one touch and go. I think Brighton is the right environment for him. They have a culture of passing, giving and going. I think that suits Zadok.”
Swedish football journalist Keven Bader also backed Yohanna to succeed, describing his impact at AIK as “incredibly rapid.”
“Despite his young age, he has stepped up in major matches and delivered decisive actions on the pitch. His strengths are undoubtedly his explosiveness, technique, and one-on-one ability,” Bader said.
“The fact that Yohanna is taking the step from Sweden directly to the Premier League really highlights the elite offensive qualities he possesses. At the same time, it also shows Brighton’s ability to scout such a player and their willingness to invest.
“Yohanna has enormous potential with his attacking qualities. The big question is whether he can manage to get the most out of it on the absolute biggest stage in club football. This will be an exciting journey to follow.”
© Bold Sports Media. All rights reserved. If sharing, kindly credit Bold Sports as the source and include a link to the original post. Unauthorised use is prohibited.
