New Brighton signing Femi Azeez has said his priority will be adapting to life in the English Premier League after completing a deadline-day move from Championship side Millwall, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Brighton confirmed the deal on Wednesday after both clubs submitted a deal sheet ahead of the initial 11pm transfer deadline, buying an extension until 1am before completing the transfer ahead of the revised cut-off.
The deal is reportedly worth up to £15m, with The Athletic’s David Ornstein reporting that Brighton will pay an initial £12.5m, plus more than £2.5m in performance-related add-ons.
In his first interview with the Seagulls, the Nigeria international was measured about his ambitions for the opening season of his four-year deal.
“I guess just settling in to the Premier League, settling into the club is a big step up from the Championship. I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself just yet because obviously this is a massive jump,” Azeez said via the club’s YouTube channel.
“It’s the best league in the world for a reason. So if I just take it day by day, you know, just work hard, come in every day, enjoy it, have a smile on my face, obviously listen to the guys that are here already, take feedback, you know, and grow. I think that’s the main thing for me right now. And then hopefully once I start being established hopefully in the team, then I can start setting real targets for myself.
“I’m confident I obviously know the Premier League is a different step, a different level to the Championship. One that I’ll have to get used to, but obviously with me as a person, hard-working and ambitious, I have no doubts that hopefully I can bring what I was shown last season again to Brighton this season and moving forward.”
Hürzeler’s Pitch Sealed the Deal
The 25-year-old also revealed that a conversation with Brighton coach Fabian Hürzeler played a pivotal role in convincing him to make the switch to the Amex Stadium.
“Obviously, I had a chat with the manager beforehand, and his attention to detail and everything that he was telling me just got me like really excited to come. The club has got a very good track record of developing players as well, and I know the ambition and the drive and like everything about the club just aligned with me as a person. So, for me, I thought it was a great fit,” he said.
“A Dream Come True”
For Azeez, completing the move represents the fulfilment of a lifelong dream.
“It’s every young boy’s dream, isn’t it? Something I’ve been dreaming of for my whole life, and uh to be given this opportunity is like a dream come true, really, and you know I’m going to take this opportunity. I’m going to work hard; I want to be successful here. So yeah, I’m over the moon,” he said.
The 25-year-old enjoyed an outstanding 2025/26 campaign, scoring 11 goals and providing eight assists in 35 Championship appearances. His performances helped Millwall reach the playoffs and earned him selection in both the EFL Championship Team of the Season and the PFA Championship Team of the Year.
