Zadok Yohanna

Zadok Yohanna
Personal information
Full name Zadok Abu Yohanna
Date of birth (2007-06-29) 29 June 2007
Place of birth Bauchi State, Nigeria
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position Right winger
Team information
Current team
 Brighton & Hove Albion
Number 36
Youth career
–2025 Ikon Allah FC
2025 AIK
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2025–2026 AIK 13 (2)
2026– Brighton & Hove Albion 0 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15 June 2026

Zadok Abu Yohanna (English: /ˈzʌdɒk jɒˈhʌnʌ/;[1] born 29 June 2007) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion.

Yohanna began his career at the Ikon Allah Football Academy in Nigeria before being recruited by Swedish club AIK in 2025, where he played in the first team during the 2026 season.[2] In June 2026, Yohanna signed for Brighton & Hove Albion for €28 million, breaking the Swedish transfer fee record.[3]

Club career

Early career

Zadok Yohanna was born and raised in Bauchi, Nigeria, and belongs to the Sawaya Ethnic Group. At the age of approximately 12–13, he left his family to relocate independently to Kaduna, where he began playing for the Ikon Allah Academy.[4]

AIK

2025–2026: Development and breakthrough

Yohanna was signed by AIK on 29 June 2025, agreeing to a contract that runs until 31 December 2029.[5] Yohanna began his spell at AIK playing for the club’s under-19 side, where he scored four goals in three matches in the P19 Allsvenskan. It did not take long before head coach Mikkjal Thomassen began integrating Yohanna into first-team training on a regular basis.[6]

He made his debut for the club on 17 August 2025, coming on as a substitute in the 89th minute against IFK Göteborg at Gamla Ullevi in a match that AIK lost 2–1. Three days later, in the following match, Yohanna made his first start for AIK, playing the full game in the qualification round for the 2025–26 Svenska Cupen against Hudiksvalls FF, which AIK won convincingly 7–0.[7]

On 9 March 2026, Yohanna scored his first two goals for AIK as the team defeated BK Häcken 4–0 at Strawberry Arena, securing qualification for the quarter-finals of the Swedish Cup.[8] In the quarter-final against GAIS, Yohanna continued his scoring form by netting one of AIK’s goals, heading in a cross from Áron Csongvai in the second half. However, AIK lost the match 3–2 and were eliminated from the cup.[9]

On April 5, 2026, in the first league game of the season at Strawberry Arena, Yohanna scored his first league goal[10] Transfer speculation began to intensify. In April, reports emerged linking German clubs such as Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen with the player.[11][12] Yohanna maintained his strong form throughout the spring of 2026 and scored AIK’s only goal in a 1–1 draw against IF Elfsborg at Borås Arena on 3 May.[13] In the following match, on 10 May, he registered an assist for Kevin Filling in a 4–2 defeat to Djurgårdens IF.[14]

Brighton & Hove Albion

On 6 June 2026, it was announced that Yohanna will transfer to English Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion when the transfer window opens on 15 June 2026.[15][16] He has signed a five-year contract with the club.[17]

International career

In May 2026, Yohanna received his first-ever call-up to the Nigerian national team, which was set to participate in the four-nation Unity Cup tournament in London.[18] The following day, his club, AIK, announced that it had decided not to release him for international duty, as Yohanna was in a crucial final stage of his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury.[19]

Style of play

A left-footed player, Yohanna primarily features on the right wing, though he can also operate in an attacking midfield role.[20]

As Yohanna established himself in the AIK side during the 2026 season under head coach José Riveiro, he was deployed as a right winger in a 4–3–3 system.[21]

Personal life

Yohanna is a Christian.[22] His given name is of Hebrew origin meaning “righteous,” from the biblical name Zadok. In Bauchi State, where Yohanna grew up, Christians comprise approximately 45% of the population.

Career statistics

As of match played 4 May 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Svenska Cupen Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
AIK 2025 Allsvenskan 601070
2026 Allsvenskan 7243115
Career total 13253185

References

  1. ↑ "Pronunciation of "Zadok Yohanna"". X. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  2. ↑ Sport, S. V. T. (5 April 2026). "Fotboll: AIK vann premiären mot Halmstad – Zadok Yohanna stor hjälte i slutminuterna". SVT Sport (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  3. ↑ Diamant, Jonatan Pinheiro (6 June 2026). "Bekräftat: AIK säljer Yohanna för 305 miljoner". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  4. ↑ ""Grät jättemycket – saknar dem varje dag"". www.aftonbladet.se (in Swedish). 5 April 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  5. ↑ Sport, S. V. T. (29 June 2025). "Fotboll: Klart: AIK värvar Zadok Yohanna – Se Fotbollsstudion med analyser från Allsvenskan". SVT Sport (in Swedish). Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  6. ↑ Nordqvist, Casper (24 March 2026). "EXKLUSIVT: Så upptäcktes Zadok Yohanna i Nigeria". FotbollDirekt (in Swedish). Retrieved 13 May 2026.
  7. ↑ "Mikkjal Thomassen ska hyllas för det". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). 20 August 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  8. ↑ Agency, TT News (9 March 2026). "Dream goals from teenage talent Zadok Yohanna took AIK to Swedish Cup quarter-finals". Sweden Herald. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  9. ↑ "Gais slog ut AIK ur cupen efter galen tillställning - Svenska cupen - Fotbollskanalen". Fotbollskanalen (in Swedish). Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  10. ↑ Nordqvist, Casper (5 April 2026). "Yohanna frälste AIK inför 39 000 åskådare". FotbollDirekt (in Swedish). Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  11. ↑ "Uppgifter: Tysk trio ute efter Zadok Yohanna - Allsvenskan - Fotbollskanalen". www.fotbollskanalen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 13 May 2026.
  12. ↑ Oguntimehin, Ayomide (21 April 2026). "Zadok Yohanna: AIK respond to links from German clubs for Nigerian talent". Retrieved 13 May 2026.
  13. ↑ "AIK kryssade mot Elfsborg: "Viktig poäng" - Allsvenskan - Fotbollskanalen". www.fotbollskanalen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 13 May 2026.
  14. ↑ Bildbyrån, Foto: Jonathan Näckstrand / (10 May 2026). "Yohanna tvingades ut i derbyt: "Sa nej"". www.aftonbladet.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 13 May 2026.
  15. ↑ "Albion Agree Deal to Sign Zadok Yohanna". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. 6 June 2026. Retrieved 6 June 2026.
  16. ↑ "Brighton agree £21.5m deal for AIK Stockholm winger Zadok Yohanna". BBC Sport. 6 June 2026.
  17. ↑ Naylor, Andy (6 June 2026). "Brighton confirm £21.5m signing of teenage winger Zadok Yohanna from AIK Stockholm". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  18. ↑ "Beskedet: Zadok Yohanna kallad till Nigerias landslag - Allsvenskan - Fotbollskanalen". www.fotbollskanalen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  19. ↑ Popoola, Gbemidepo (21 May 2026). "Nigerian winger Zadok Yohanna blocked from Super Eagles’ Unity Cup squad". Premium Times. ISSN 2360-7688. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  20. ↑ "Officiellt: AIK värvar Yohanna - Allsvenskan - Fotbollskanalen". www.fotbollskanalen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  21. ↑ Sport, S. V. T. (11 March 2026). "Fotboll: Experten hyllar AIK:s Zadok Yohanna: "Enorm kvalitet"". SVT Sport (in Swedish). Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  22. ↑ "Zadok Yohanna's first interview at Brighton & Hove Albion". YouTube. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
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