Zadok Yohanna: Brighton overtake Dortmund, Leverkusen in race for highly-rated Nigerian teenager

Brighton and Hove Albion have entered into advanced talks with AIK winger Zadok Yohanna, overtaking Borussia Dortmund and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the race for the talented youngster, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 18-year-old fleet-footed winger has enjoyed a meteoric rise since leaving Ikon Allah Football Academy for Sweden just under a year ago.

After establishing himself as one of the standout young players in the Allsvenskan, Yohanna has attracted interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs, with scouts from Germany, England, Spain, and France closely monitoring his progress.

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Brighton lead race to sign Zadok Yohanna

According to Sky Sports, the Seagulls are in advanced negotiations with AIK and are optimistic that an agreement could be reached this week. AIK have already publicly confirmed that talks are underway regarding the sale of the Nigerian winger.

The Swedish club are believed to be seeking a fee in the region of £20 million, a figure that could break the Allsvenskan transfer record [Lucas Bergvall – Djurgårdens IF to Tottenham Hotspur, 2024 for €20m] if completed.

Back in April, Sky Germany revealed that Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, and RB Leipzig were all tracking the teenager following his explosive start to life in Sweden. He's scored five goals and provided four assists in 18 games for Jose Riveiro's side, showing maturity far beyond his age.

It appears Brighton's reputation for nurturing young talent appears to have given them an edge in the race for Yohanna. The Seagulls have built a strong reputation for identifying young players before their market value explodes and turning them into top-level players. The likes of Moises Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister, and Yves Bissouma are solid examples.

Czech champions Slavia Prague have monitored the winger since March, while French side Rennes viewed Yohanna as the next ‘Ademola Lookman'. All parties look set to miss out with Brighton on the brink of sealing the transfer.

The teenager recently earned a call-up to the Super Eagles setup for the Unity Cup fixtures against Jamaica and Zimbabwe, a decision he was very proud of.

However, AIK opted against releasing him due to injury concerns and ongoing transfer discussions. The decision now appears justified, with the club standing on the verge of a record-breaking sale.

Should the deal be wrapped up soon, he'll follow the steps of Leon Balogun, Ade Akinbiyi and Emeka Ifejiagwa on the list of Nigerians to have played for the Seagulls.