Newcastle miss out on Zadok Yohanna as Brighton unveil £21.5m signing

Over the past few days, Newcastle United have been heavily linked with a move for Nigerian talent Zadok Yohanna. 

At one stage, reports in Sweden claimed that Newcastle had launched a £20.7m bid for the 18-year-old, who impressed with AIK last season.

North-East reporters confirmed our interest and that talks had taken place over a potential move, but cooled suggestions that we'd lodged a formal bid.

And, a few days on, it was announced on Saturday afternoon that we have officially 'missed out' on the teenage winger, who has joined Brighton.

"It was always Brighton" - Zadok Yohanna 

Brighton have won the race to sign Zadok Yohanna, announcing his arrival from Swedish giants AIK Stockholm.

The fee is expected to be £21.5m, seeing the right-sided winger pen a five-year deal at The Amex ahead of the 2026/27 season.

In his announcement video, which you can watch below, the man himself stated, "ignore the noise, it was always Brighton."

Newcastle clearly held interest in Yohanna, who bagged five goals and four assists in just 10 starts last term, although it's not clear if ourselves or recently linked Chelsea did lodge formal bids.

Nevertheless, that is irrelevant now as the Nigerian talent has completed a move to the South Coast, where he could compete with former Newcastle winger Yankuba Minteh for a place on Brighton's right flank. 

Two wingers needed?

Yohanna may be one for the future, but our interest in him, a right-sided winger, and need for an Anthony Gordon replacement on the left highlights our need to strengthen both flanks.

Osasuna's Victor Munoz is thought to be a leading target following Gordon's £70m switch to Barcelona, but that right wing is also needs an injection of life after hugely disappointing seasons for Anthony Elanga and Jacob Murphy, who scored just four between them.

Although Eddie Howe typically guards against wholesale changes, it feels like this summer will feature plenty of movement, with a few goalkeepers, full-back cover, a couple of wingers and potential striker movement likely to be prioritised.