Femi Azeez: Why Brighton went hard for Super Eagles star – “We’re delighted”

Super Eagles winger Femi Azeez has signed for English Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion from Championship side Millwall on a four-year contract, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Premier League club confirmed the transfer on Wednesday after both clubs submitted a deal sheet before the original 11 pm deadline, allowing the move to be completed by the extended 1 am deadline.

Brighton had to work hard to get the deal over the line, with Millwall rejecting at least three bids for the 25-year-old before the Seagulls eventually reached an agreement with the Lions.

The transfer is worth an initial £12.5 million, with the fee potentially rising beyond £15 million through performance-related add-ons, making Azeez the most expensive departure in Millwall's history.

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Why Brighton were so determined to sign Femi Azeez

Brighton sporting director Mike Cave made clear that the club's interest was driven by Azeez's outstanding 2025/26 campaign, when he emerged as one of the Championship's best players.

“We are delighted to add Femi to the squad,” Cave said in quotes revealed by Brighton's official website.

“He arrives off the back of an excellent season with Millwall, having played a key role for them as they finished in the playoffs.

“He was one of the most exciting attacking talents in the Championship, and we’re delighted to have finally agreed his transfer, and we now looking forward to working with him,” the former Fuham academy manager concluded.

His numbers made the interest understandable

Azeez enjoyed a major breakthrough last season, scoring 11 goals and providing seven assists in 37 Championship appearances, with 35 of those games coming as starts.

His 18 goal contributions placed him among the division's most effective attacking players, while his performances earned him a selection in the PFA Championship Team of the Year.

For Brighton, those numbers offer evidence of a winger capable of producing when the pressure is at its highest, and the player's desire to compete in the English top-flight signalled the kind of menality the Seagulls wanted.

There is also a compelling career story behind Azeez's arrival at the Amex. The 25-year-old did not take the conventional route to the Premier League.

After coming through Watford's youth system, he played non-league football with Northwood, Wealdstone and Hanwell Town before earning a move to Reading in 2019.

He subsequently joined Millwall in 2024 and gradually established himself as one of the Championship's most dangerous wingers, and this progression is significant for Brighton, who have built a reputation for identifying players before they reach their peak.

Azeez's development suggests there may still be considerable room for improvement, particularly now that he will be working in a Premier League environment and competing against a higher level of opposition.

Femi is a Seagull. 💙🤍 #BHAFC pic.twitter.com/SnykAR0CXD

— Brighton & Hove Albion (@BHAFC) September 2, 2026

Naturally a winger, the Nigerian is capable of operating from the right side while using his left foot to cut inside and create opportunities, but he can also play as an attacking midfielder, as he showed when he debuted for the Super Eagles during the 2026 Unity Cup.