‘This is his moment’ – Why Yasin Ayari could be Brighton’s next transfer gem after AIK teachings

Brighton recruited Swedish international midfielder Yasin Ayari from AIK Fotbol in January and to find out more about the 19-year-old, Sussex Live did a deep dive on how he got to this point

“Everyone at the club feels this is Yasin’s moment and he has earned it. He is focused. He is on this planet to play football.”

Brighton’s newest first-team signing, Yasin Ayari, has always had talent; that has never been questioned. But the 19-year-old, who signed from Swedish side AIK Fotbol in January on a contract until the summer of 2027, has just wanted it more than others.

He has climbed his way to the Premier League, one inch at a time. Setbacks, being taken out of your comfort zone, leaps of faith – the midfielder has had all of it and has come out stronger on the other side.

AIK technical director Peter Wennberg said he first came across Ayari in 2012 when the footballing prodigy was just nine. Wennberg was a youth coach at the time and was curious when the diminutive youngster turned up for a trial at AIK after being spotted at Råsunda IS, a local club in Solna, Stockholm. Naturally, he had an anxious disposition ahead of his big moment.

“When he came to the training ground our head of scouting at the time, Tobias Ackerman, said he was holding his mother’s hand and after coming out on the pitch he was so nervous. It was his first day at the big club,” Wennberg told Sussex Live.