THE scout credited with discovering Nigerian winger Zadok Yohanna has opened up on how he identified the young talent and convinced Swedish club AIK to sign him before he eventually secured a move to the English Premier League.
News Point Nigeria Sports reports Herish Sadi, who played a key role in Yohanna’s recruitment, recounted the events that led to the youngster’s arrival in Sweden after the player completed his transfer from AIK to Brighton & Hove Albion.
The highly rated 18-year-old winger recently signed a five-year contract with Brighton following a series of impressive performances for AIK, a development that has further highlighted his rapid rise in European football.
Speaking after Yohanna’s move to the Premier League was confirmed, Sadi revealed that he was so convinced about the teenager’s potential that he was willing to stake his own job on the transfer.
According to comments shared on Brila Media’s X handle, Sadi said he was immediately impressed by Yohanna’s versatility and quality whenever he watched him operate both as an attacking midfielder and as a winger.
“I was really impressed watching him play as a number 10 and on the wing. There were a lot of scouts there, and we had to move fast,” Sadi said.
The scout explained that he contacted AIK’s leadership and urged them to complete the deal without delay, believing the player would eventually generate enormous value for the club.
“I called AIK’s CEO and said: ‘How would a hundred million Krona (€10 million) feel? You need to close this deal right away. If he doesn’t turn out well, fire me. Fire me without compensation.’”
Sadi added that he personally handled discussions with Yohanna’s representatives and club officials in Nigeria before finalising the transfer.
“I negotiated with the president and managers there. I actually finalized the deal that same evening, and he officially became an AIK player,” he said.
Born in Bauchi State, Yohanna began his football journey at the Ikon Allah Football Academy in Nigeria, where his performances attracted the attention of talent scouts.
His potential eventually earned him a move to AIK in 2025, marking the beginning of a remarkable rise through the ranks of European football.
Upon arriving in Sweden, Yohanna quickly adapted to his new environment and established himself within the club’s development structure.
His progress was swift, and he soon emerged as one of the most exciting young prospects at the club before making his breakthrough into the senior team during the 2026 season.
Yohanna initially featured for AIK’s under-19 side, where he immediately caught attention with a series of standout displays.
The teenager scored four goals in just three matches in the P19 Allsvenskan, performances that convinced the club’s coaching staff he was ready for greater responsibilities.
His rapid development did not go unnoticed by AIK head coach Mikkjal Thomassen, who soon began integrating him regularly into first-team training sessions.
Yohanna made his senior debut for AIK on August 17, 2025, when he came off the bench in the 89th minute of a league encounter against IFK Göteborg at Gamla Ullevi.
Although AIK suffered a 2-1 defeat in that match, the appearance marked an important milestone in the young Nigerian’s career.
Just three days later, he was handed his first start for the Swedish club.
Yohanna played the entire match in the qualification round of the 2025–26 Svenska Cupen against Hudiksvalls FF as AIK cruised to a commanding 7-0 victory.
The performance further reinforced the growing belief within the club that they had secured one of the most promising young talents in Nigerian football.
Yohanna’s impressive rise also earned him recognition at international level.
In May 2026, he received his maiden invitation to the Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles, ahead of the four-nation Unity Cup tournament in London.
The call-up represented another significant step in the youngster’s rapidly developing career and highlighted his growing reputation within Nigerian football circles.
However, his anticipated international debut was put on hold almost immediately.
A day after the invitation was announced, AIK disclosed that it would not release the winger for national team duty.
The Swedish club explained that Yohanna was undergoing the final stages of rehabilitation from a hamstring injury and that it was in the player’s best interest to complete his recovery programme before returning to competitive action.
Despite that temporary setback, Yohanna continued his development and impressed sufficiently to attract interest from one of England’s top-flight clubs.
His move to Brighton now represents the latest chapter in a journey that began on the football fields of Bauchi and passed through the youth ranks and first team of AIK.
For Sadi, the scout who first championed his recruitment, the transfer serves as vindication of the faith he showed in the teenager from the moment he first saw him play.