Brighton and Hove Albion’s Nigerian summer signing Zadok Yohanna has been included in the top 100 of the 2026 European Golden Boy rankings, released by Italian sports daily Tuttosport, which organises the prestigious annual award.

The list ranks players under the age of 21 based on their performances and achievements so far in 2026, with the winner set to be decided in November. Yohanna, 19, features at 80th on the initial list of 100 candidates.

He joins a group of well-known names on the list, including Barcelona and Spain winger Lamine Yamal, Arsenal and England left-back Miles Lewis-Skelly, Chelsea’s Brazilian forward Estevao, Paris Saint-Germain’s Warren Zaire-Emery, Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi, Sporting Lisbon’s Ousmane Diomande, Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi, Bayern Munich’s Lennart Karl, and Chelsea’s Jorrel Hato. Yamal technically tops the list but is ineligible to win again, having already claimed the award in 2024.

Yohanna’s inclusion follows a standout campaign at Swedish club AIK Stockholm, where he scored five goals and provided four assists in 18 appearances before completing a summer move to Brighton on a five year contract running until June 2031. His form also earned him a place in the Super Eagles squad for the 2026 Unity Cup, though AIK were not obligated to release him for that tournament since it fell outside FIFA’s official international match window.

The Golden Boy award has historically been dominated by players from Spanish clubs, with past winners including Lionel Messi, Cesc Fabregas, Sergio Aguero, Isco, Pedri, Gavi, and Jude Bellingham. Spain has produced four winners overall, the most of any country, ahead of France with three.