File: Nigerian winger, Zadok Yohanna
Nigerian youngsters Zadok Yohanna and Calvin Okike have been named among 20 emerging talents expected to make their mark in the 2026-27 Premier League season.
The duo were included in a list of promising players from every Premier League club who could enjoy breakthrough campaigns as teams prepare for the new season.
Brighton & Hove Albion winger Zadok Yohanna is one of the most exciting names on the list after the Seagulls invested £21.5 million to sign the 19-year-old from Swedish club AIK Stockholm.
The Nigerian right-winger impressed in Sweden last season, scoring five goals and providing four assists in 18 appearances. His performances attracted interest from several top clubs, but Brighton moved quickly to secure his services.
Former Brighton midfielder Warren Aspinall praised the club’s recruitment strategy and believes Yohanna could become another success story at the Amex Stadium.
“It’s a little bit of a scalp because two other big clubs in England were chasing him, Chelsea and Newcastle, so they got ahead of them, which is very good,” Aspinall said.
Meanwhile, Hull City defender Calvin Okike is another Nigerian prospect hoping to break into the Premier League this season.
The 18-year-old centre-back signed his first professional contract with Hull during the summer after impressing at academy level. He also gained valuable senior experience during a loan spell at National League side Hartlepool United, where he scored within a minute of making his debut.
Okike was named Hull City’s academy player of the year for the 2025-26 campaign and has featured during the club’s pre-season preparations, strengthening his case for a first-team opportunity.
The list also features some of Europe’s most highly rated young talents, including Arsenal’s 16-year-old forward Max Dowman, Chelsea striker Dastan Satpaev, Liverpool midfielder Trey Nyoni and Manchester United winger Shea Lacey.
With Premier League clubs increasingly turning to youth development, Yohanna and Okike will be hoping the 2026-27 season becomes the stage where they announce themselves on English football’s biggest platform.
According to a list compiled by BBC Sport on Wednesday, these are the top 20 rising stars set for an EPL breakthrough.
Max Dowman – Arsenal (attacking midfielder/forward)
George Hemmings – Aston Villa (midfielder)
Veljko Milosavljevic – Bournemouth (defender)
Kaye Furo – Brentford (striker)
Zadok Yohanna – Brighton & Hove Albion (winger)
Dastan Satpaev – Chelsea (forward)
Kai Andrews – Coventry City (midfielder)
Joel Drakes-Thomas – Crystal Palace (winger/wing-back)
Harrison Armstrong – Everton (midfielder)
Jonah Kusi-Asare – Fulham (forward)
Calvin Okike – Hull City (left-back/central defender)
Luca Fletcher – Ipswich Town (winger/forward)
Alfie Cresswell – Leeds United (midfielder)
Trey Nyoni – Liverpool (midfielder)
Ryan McAidoo – Manchester City (winger)
Shea Lacey – Manchester United (forward)
Sam Alabi – Newcastle United (midfielder)
Azae Bonnick – Nottingham Forest (midfielder)
Chris Rigg – Sunderland (midfielder)
Luca Williams-Barnett – Tottenham Hotspur (forward)
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