The lowdown on Zadok Yohanna

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The Nigerian will officially be an Albion player when the transfer window opens later this month.

Richie Mills

2026-06-09T21:00+01:00

Zadok Yohanna scored five goals in 18 appearances for AIK. 📸 by Jeff Mood.

Zadok Yohanna can “sting like a cobra” if the new Brighton signing is given licence to roam and attack.

That is according to AIK Fotboll technical director, Peter Wennberg, who played a big role in the 18-year-old joining Fabian Hurzeler’s side.

The winger is heading to the Premier League outfit on a five-year deal until 2031, capping off a remarkable rise for the teenager.

Indeed, up until June last year, Yohanna was playing at the Ikon Allah Football Academy in Nigeria before moving to AIK. Now, he is dreaming of being a Premier League player.

The moment that made us all cry today, Zadok telling his (unaware) father about him signing for @OfficialBHAFC @AIKfotboll pic.twitter.com/78WCA0O00O
— Herish Sadi (@herishsadi) June 6, 2026

Wennberg said, “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’.

“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.”

Zadok Yohanna can't wait to experience the Premier League with the Albion... 🤩💬
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) June 9, 2026

After initially joining AIK’s under-19s, Yohanna began to blossom under the tutelage of transition coach Jonny Gustafsson, under-19 head coach Jesper Björk, and under-19 goalkeeper coach Filippo Biliotti – the latter of whom worked on his defensive development.

Following an electric start at that level, Yohanna was promoted to the first team and made his debut last August. After failing to score in six games in the 2025 season, he chalked up nine goal contributions in 12 games in all competitions this term – as new head coach Jose Rivero got the best out of him.

“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.”

Wennberg – who did his utmost to make sure AIK made Yohanna’s move to Stockholm less of a “culture shock” - stressed that Brighton fans need to be patient with the young Nigerian, who can play as a number 10 or as an inverted right winger.

However, he feels the south coast team is the right place for him to hone his craft.

“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.

“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.

Zadok Yohanna will join Albion on a five-year contract when the transfer window opens. 📸 by Jeff Mood.

“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.”

Keven Bader, who writes for Swedish publication Fotbollskanalen, stated that Yohanna’s impact at AIK has been “incredibly rapid”. Moreover, he believes the youngster has huge potential.

He added, “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.

“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.”