New Brighton & Hove Albion signing Zadok Yohanna has shared that his old teammates in Nigeria compare him to Algerian star Riyad Mahrez because of his left-footed playing style, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The 18-year-old midfielder, who joined AIK Stockholm from Ikon Allah FA in Kaduna last year, impressed many with his great performances. This earned him a move to Brighton after just one season in a deal worth €28m, plus another €2m in add-ons.
Brighton secured the young player on a five-year contract. This makes him the most expensive player ever sold from the Swedish Allsvenskan and Brighton’s 10th-most expensive signing.
In a recent video, Yohanna talked about his playing style. He said he tries to model his game after Mahrez.
“My teammates in Nigeria call me Riyad Mahrez; they say I dribble and play like him rather than Lamine Yamal or Olise,” Yohanna said.
Mahrez is one of Africa’s top footballers. At his best, the left-footed playmaker was known for his close control, creativity, technical skills, and ability to score goals. He played a key role in Manchester City’s successes under Pep Guardiola after helping Leicester City win the Premier League title.
Brighton coach Fabian Hürzeler is also excited about Yohanna’s arrival. He spoke about the club’s latest recruit and shared what made Brighton want to sign the teenager.
“I’m looking forward to working with Zadok,” the German told BBC Sport.
“Having seen his games and his attributes, he is a player who can impact games in the final third.”
The Brighton manager also reminded everyone to be patient as the young player settles into his new surroundings.
“He’s still young and will need time to adapt to the club and the Premier League, but he’s an exciting player to watch and he brings the kind of creativity we know our fans will enjoy.”
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