Chelsea close to Alonso's first signing as €25m bid accepted

Updated: 5 Jun 2026 14:06 BST | 7 min read

Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

Accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020

Chelsea and Newcastle United have reportedly both had €25 million bids for Zadok Yohanna accepted by AIK ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window.

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The 18-year-old moved to AIK from the Ikon Allah Football Academy in Nigeria last year and he has quickly established himself as one of the most sought-after youngsters in world football since his arrival in Sweden.

Yohanna has scored five goals and provided four assists in 11 matches since the Swedish domestic season started in February, and he is widely expected to leave the club before the end of the summer transfer window.

The Nigerian youngster is a left-footed winger who typically plays on the right flank, and it has been reported that as many as 32 clubs sent scouts to watch him live in action in April, with a host of top European clubs keeping close tabs on his development at AIK.

The likes of Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Real Madrid, Stade Rennais and Tottenham Hotspur have all been linked with a move for the teenager in recent months, while Brighton & Hove Albion opened talks to sign him over the weekend.

However, Chelsea and Newcastle have both seen €25m offers for Yohanna accepted by AIK, as per The Daily Mail, and are looking to reach an agreement on personal terms before the Premier League summer window officially opens on 15 June.

As they are on the stock market, AIK are obliged to publicly confirm initial details of transfer negotiations and they posted a statement on Sunday that read: “AIK Fotboll has initiated negotiations regarding the sale of player Zadok Yohanna. The current bid indicates a net profit effect higher than £20m. If and when an agreement has been reached, this will be communicated.”

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Chelsea’s summer signings

Chelsea have already completed the signings of Geovany Quenda, Emmanuel Emegha, Dastan Satpaev and Denner ahead of this summer, while it is understood that a full agreement is in place to bring Strasbourg midfielder Valentin Barco to the club too.

However, a deal for Barco was all but agreed in early 2026 and Yohanna would therefore become the first true signing of the Xabi Alonso era at Stamford Bridge if Chelsea are able to beat Newcastle to his signature.

The Blues already have a plethora of young wingers on their books, including Estevao Willian, Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens and the aforementioned Quenda, but they have been left thoroughly impressed by Yohanna’s rapid ascent to stardom at AIK and they are eager to win the race to sign him this summer.

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