“He’s gone, baby – he’s gone”, AIK Stockholm scout Herish Sadi tells about discovering Yohanna Zadock in Nigeria before signing him for AIK for a reported $750,000, and less than a year later, the youngster is heading to the Premier League with Brighton and Hove Albion.
Since hugging the headlines in the first game of his first professional season in Europe, Yohanna Zadock has stayed top of mind in the football world for the right reasons.
His talent is on display, from assists to goals for an 18-year-old in his debut season.
The ultimate is the recent national team invite from Nigeria and the subsequent rejection of the invite by his club, AIK, due to his recent return from injury.
First National Team Invite
Yohanna was close to making his senior debut during the four-nation Unity Cup tournament in London.
The 18-year-old recorded two goals and three assists in seven league appearances for AIK, performances that earned him a first senior call-up.
However, AIK declined to release the youngster for the competition, as the Unity Cup falls outside FIFA’s official international calendar.
Yohanna Zadock: His Origins and Road to Brighton
Of course, Yohanna Zadock is a special talent who is enjoying the fruits of over five years of preparation in one year at the Ikon Allah Academy in Niger State, Northern Nigeria.
After a former Ikon Allah Academy player, Waziri, scouted him in Bauchi, Yohanna was put on a path to Brighton Hove and Albion in the English Premier League, as the most exciting talent in World Football.
Speaking exclusively to SportsIntel, Ayi Mohammed, owner of Ikon Allah Academy, said it’s special to watch the boy who came to him as a 12-year-old grow into a world star.
“Like Zadok Yohana is a wonderful child. He stayed with me with my family; from the age of 12, he was living with me with my family, feeding, clothing, taking care of the hospital, everything.”
With his brother’s consent, Yohanna moved from Bauchi to Kaduna to join the Ikon Allah Academy, under Ayi Mohammed.
The youngster had tryouts with the National U17 team in 2023, and the U20 in 2025, but both were unsuccessful until AIK scout Herish Sadi saw him at Ikon Allah’s scouting program.
“I was really impressed when I watched him play as a number 10 and on the wing. There were a lot of scouts there, and we had to move fast.
I called AIK’s CEO and said; How would a hundred million Krona (10 million Euros) feel? You need to close this deal right away. If he doesn’t turn out well, fire me. Fire me without compensation, I said.
I negotiated with the president and managers there. I actually closed the deal that same evening, and he officially became an AIK player.” Herish Sadi speaking to Fotbollskanalen podcast.
Yohanna’s transfer becomes the biggest sale in AIK’s and Swedish League history, surpassing Alexander Isak’s move to Borussia Dortmund.
The Ikon Allah Academy Process and Track Record
Ikon Allah Academy is built on family principles through every weather. When he joined, he not only gained an academy to mold his talent, but a family who took him in, a father and coach.
A service Ayi Mohammed is more than happy to provide for Yohanna and others under his care.
“Process is very, very hard. We started this process once when we were using a bus that could take eight passengers, but we could manage almost 15 in the bus. Travel the players, sleep with the players, but today, everything has changed. Totally. The most important thing is to focus and put your ambition into one point.” Ayi Mohammed speaking exclusively to SportsIntel on Yohanna’s impact.
While he is working on a path that will lead to greatness, Yohanna isn’t the first top talent out of Ikon Allah Academy to make it in Europe and the national team.
Super Eagles and Sevilla attacker, Chidera Ejuke, and Flying Eagles stars, Isaac Ayuma and Joshua John.