Footy-Africa can exclusively report that Swedish giants AIK are set to deepen their relationship with Nigerian talent factory Ikhon Allah Football Academy following the remarkable success story of youngster Zadok Yohanna.
Sources close to the deal have disclosed to Footy-Africa that an agreement has been reached for six more players from the Kaduna based academy to join the Allsvenskan club in a move that underlines the growing football pipeline between Nigeria and Sweden.
The relationship has already delivered significant rewards for both parties through the transfer of Yohanna. The highly-rated Nigerian prospect was developed at Ikhon Allah Football Academy before securing a move to AIK for a reported £750,000 fee.
Less than a year after arriving in Sweden, Yohanna’s rapid rise attracted interest from across Europe, culminating in a transfer to English Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion in a deal understood to be worth close to £30 million.
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The move represented a substantial financial success for both AIK and Ikhon Allah Academy, further strengthening the relationship between the two organisations.
According to sources, preparations are at an advanced stage for the next phase of the collaboration, with visa arrangements for the six players said to be almost complete.
“The visas are around 90 per cent ready,” a source familiar with the process disclosed to Footy-Africa.
The players are expected to travel to Sweden in July, where they will begin the next chapter of their development within AIK’s football structure.
An official announcement from both clubs is anticipated once all documentation and travel arrangements have been finalised.
The latest agreement highlights the increasing influence of Nigerian academies in the global transfer market and reflects the growing confidence European clubs have in the country’s emerging talent pool.
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For AIK, the success of Yohanna has demonstrated the value of investing in young African talent. For Ikhon Allah Academy, the pathway to European football offers another opportunity to showcase its ability to produce players capable of competing at the highest level.
Should the latest group of six players follow a similar trajectory, the partnership could become one of the most productive talent-development relationships between Scandinavia and West Africa in recent years.
