Brighton & Hove Albion sporting director Mike Cave has revealed why the Premier League club pushed so hard to sign Super Eagles winger Femi Azeez from Millwall on transfer deadline day, Footynaija.com reports.
The Seagulls eventually secured the 25-year-old on a four-year contract after making multiple attempts to prise him away from Millwall during the closing stages of the transfer window.
Brighton had already seen earlier bids rejected before finally reaching an agreement with the EFL Championship club, with the deal reportedly worth an initial £12.5 million and potentially rising beyond £15 million with add-ons.
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For Cave, however, Brighton were not simply paying for Azeez’s impressive numbers. The club’s sporting director believes the Nigerian has the attacking qualities to make the step up to the Premier League.
“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,” Cave said on Brighton’s official website.
“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 look forward to working with him.”
Azeez’s numbers from last season help explain Brighton’s determination to complete the deal. The winger made 37 appearances for Millwall, scoring 11 goals and providing eight assists as he established himself as one of the Championship’s standout attacking players.
Azeez has now completed a rapid rise through the English football pyramid, having started at Watford’s academy before dropping into non-league football with Northwood, Wealdstone and Hanwell Town.
He eventually joined Reading in 2019 before moving to Millwall in 2024, where he made 77 appearances, scoring 15 goals and registering 13 assists.
Brighton will now hope that the qualities which made Azeez one of the Championship’s most exciting attackers can come to the fore following his move to the Premier League.
