Nigeria's Zadok Yohanna made an encouraging debut for Brighton and Hove Albion as the Seagulls opened their Premier League campaign with a commanding 4-0 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday.

The 19-year-old came off the bench with 12 minutes remaining, entering the action as Brighton were already well in control at the Amex Stadium. The result lifted Brighton to the top of the Premier League table on goals scored.

DAZN awarded Yohanna a rating of 6.2 for his cameo, noting that he "helped maintain defensive structure late on" despite his limited involvement. In his short time on the pitch, he registered 11 touches, completed all five of his passes — all in the opposition half — and won one of two attempted dribbles.

A rapid rise for the Nigerian teenager

Yohanna began his footballing journey at the Ikon Allah Football Academy in Nigeria before Swedish club AIK recruited him in 2025. He went on to feature for AIK's first team during the 2026 season, earning a move to Brighton and Hove Albion in June 2026 for €28 million — a figure that broke the Swedish transfer fee record.

His form also earned him international recognition. In May 2026, Yohanna received his first call-up to the Super Eagles ahead of the four-nation Unity Cup tournament in London. However, AIK opted not to release him for the competition, citing a critical final phase in his recovery from a hamstring injury.

With his Premier League debut now behind him, Yohanna will be eager to build on this promising start for Brighton.