Herish Sadi, the scout that discovered Zadok Yohanna has revealed how he discovered the winger in Nigeria.
Yohanna completed his move from Swedish club AIK to Premier League outfit Brighton and Hove Albion.
The 18-year-old sensation signed a five-year deal to join the Seagulls following his impressive performance for AIK.
‘I Was Ready To Put My Job On The Line For Yohanna’
Speaking after the move, Sadi explained how he was ready to put his job on the line for AIK to sign Yohanna.
“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 was quoted on Brila Media X handle.
“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.’
“I negotiated with the president and managers there. I actually finalized the deal that same evening, and he officially became an AIK player.”
From Nigerian Academy To AIK First Team
Born in Bauchi state, Nigeria, Yohanna began his career at the Ikon Allah Football Academy in Nigeria before being recruited by Swedish club AIK in 2025.
Following his arrival in Sweden, he rapidly established himself within the club’s structure and achieved his breakthrough in the first team during the 2026 season.
Also Read: ‘I Enjoyed Every Second’ — Yohanna Grateful To AIK For Career Development
He 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.
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.
First Super Eagles Call-up For Unity Cup
In May 2026, Yohanna received his first-ever call-up to the Super Eagles which was set to participate in the four-nation Unity Cup tournament in London.
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.
By James Agberebi
