Swedish club AIK have reaffirmed their commitment to a recruitment model focused on signing talented young players, developing them, and eventually selling them for significant profits — a strategy highlighted by the record-breaking transfer of Zadok Yohanna.
Yohanna completed his move to Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday in a deal that has rewritten the Swedish transfer record books.
AIK are set to receive €30 million, including add-ons, for the youngster, surpassing the previous record for a transfer from a Swedish club. That mark was set when Lucas Bergvall left Djurgårdens IF to join Tottenham Hotspur in a €20 million deal four years ago.
AIK Want To Sign More Yadok
AIK recruitment manager Miika Takkula said they will now continue in the path of getting young players with potential, develop them and then sell.
“An important part of the strategy is to sign young players with potential, develop them and then sell them on. This (the sale of Yohanna) is a perfect example of how we want to work,” he disclosed.
Read Also:AIK Bid Farewell To Yohanna After Brighton Switch
“This is a big and important moment for us, to follow the strategy and not do other things.
“The goal is to build the team, increase the market value of the squad and we will continue with the same type of structure. Many young players in the squad, a lot of potential to increase market value and sell, but at the same time combine it with key players who are in their “prime”.”
More Cash Inflow
In the meantime, the Zadok transfer cash will go a long way to ease the financial problems facing the Swedish club.
“It will definitely help us in the situation we are in,” he said.
“It is a remarkable sale. It improves the cash flow, it helps the club’s equity.
“But as I said – the most important thing is that we continue in the same way, sell more players and get more money in the long term. But this sale will have a nice impact.”
