Brighton & Hove Albion have completed the signing of Millwall winger Femi Azeez.
The 25-year-old Nigeria international has signed a four-year contract, with the option of an extra 12 months, after the clubs agreed a total package in excess of £15million in the last hours of the summer transfer window on Tuesday.
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The clubs submitted a deal sheet before the 11pm deadline and completed the deal ahead of the extended 1am deadline on Wednesday morning. The Athletic had previously reported that Azeez had told Millwall of his desire to leave.
Brighton’s sporting director Mike Cave said in a release: “We are delighted to add Femi to the squad. He arrives off the back of an excellent season with Millwall, having played a key role for them as they finished in the playoffs.
“He was one of the most exciting attacking talents in the Championship, and we’re delighted to have finally agreed his transfer, and we now looking forward to working with him.”
Azeez made 77 appearances for Millwall, scoring 15 goals with 13 assists. He was named in the PFA and the EFL’s Championship teams of the season after 11 goals and seven assists.
The Nigerian has worked his way through the divisions to reach the Premier League. He joined non-League Northwood after playing for Watford at youth level. He remained in the non-League ranks at Wealdstone and Hanwell Town before joining Reading in 2019 and moving to Millwall in 2024 for a fee of around £1m.
Azeez broke into Nigeria’s senior side this year, scoring both of his country’s goals in a 2-0 win over Zimbabwe on his debut in June and providing an assist as they defeated Jamaica 3-0 four days later.
The deal with Brighton, worth an initial £12.5m with a total package in excess of £15m, could become a record sale for Millwall that exceeds Romain Esse’s £14m move to Crystal Palace last year.
What it means for Brighton
Azeez is Brighton’s 11th signing of a hectic summer window. He forms part of a major refresh of the playing staff available to head coach Fabian Hurzeler, comprising incoming business costing around £170m in total, with approximately £195m raised by 20 permanent or loan departures.
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Hurzeler needs a deep squad to cope with the twin ambitions of a top-half finish in the Premier League for the fifth time in six seasons and pursuit of the club’s first major silverware in the Conference League.
Azeez, like Yankuba Minteh, is primarily a left-footed right-winger who can also play on the left. Brighton recently rejected bids of £50m and £60m from Liverpool for Minteh, who is ruled out with injury until October.
Hurzeler will have a strong hand in wide areas when Kaoru Mitoma returns from hamstring surgery, which ruled the Japan left winger out of this summer’s World Cup. The German also has 19-year-old Nigerian Zadok Johanna, signed from Swedish side AIK for £21.8m, and Ibrahim Osman. The 21-year-old Ghana international has impressed in the early part of the season following loans in the last two seasons with Feyenoord, Auxerre and Birmingham City.
