Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion have confirmed the signing of highly rated Nigerian teenager Valentin Joseph from Championship side Blackburn Rovers.
The 18-year-old becomes the second Nigerian youngster to join the Seagulls this summer after Zadok Yohanna, who recently completed a move to the club for a reported Allsvenskan record fee of €28 million.
Unlike Yohanna, who has been added to Brighton’s first-team squad, Joseph will begin his time at the club with the Under-21 team as he continues his development.
The striker enjoyed an outstanding campaign with Blackburn Rovers last season, scoring 21 goals in all competitions. He was particularly impressive in the FA Youth Cup, where he netted nine goals to finish as the competition’s leading scorer and helped Blackburn reach the semi-finals.
Before completing the transfer, Joseph mutually agreed to terminate his contract with Blackburn, allowing him to join Brighton on a free transfer.
The young forward has signed a three-year contract that will keep him at the Amex Stadium until the end of the 2028/29 season.
Joseph also gained valuable experience at Under-21 level during his time at Blackburn, recording seven goal involvements in 18 appearances across the Premier League 2, Premier League Cup and National League Cup.
His arrival further highlights Brighton’s commitment to recruiting and developing promising young talents, with the club continuing to invest in emerging Nigerian footballers.
