Brighton have got their man. Femi Azeez is on his way to the Amex Stadium after the Seagulls pushed through a deadline-day agreement with Millwall worth an initial £12.5m, rising to over £15m if add-ons are triggered. The 25-year-old Nigeria winger signs a four-year contract and becomes Brighton's eleventh acquisition of a busy summer window.
A deal that nearly didn't happen
The noises out of south-east London had been complicated for weeks. Millwall knocked back at least three separate approaches from Brighton, determined to hold their ground on valuation. In the end the Seagulls' persistence paid off, with both clubs submitting a deal sheet before Tuesday's 23:00 BST deadline and wrapping up the paperwork ahead of the extended cut-off at 01:00 on Wednesday morning.
It is a club record sale for Millwall, who signed Azeez from Reading for approximately £1m back in 2024. He departs the Den with two years remaining on his contract, leaving the Lions with a handsome profit on their investment.
What Azeez brings to the Seagulls
Last season was a breakout campaign for Azeez in the Championship. He contributed 11 goals and eight assists across 37 appearances — numbers good enough to earn him a place in the PFA Championship team of the year. He had been pushing hard for a move to the Premier League, and Brighton have now handed him that platform.
In 77 appearances at Millwall across his time at the club, Azeez established himself as one of the most dangerous wide players in the second tier — direct, quick, and capable of producing moments of quality in the final third. Whether he can translate that form to the top flight is the question the market will be asking, though Brighton's record of developing attacking talent speaks for itself.
Part of a landmark summer
Azeez is not the only piece of business Brighton completed on deadline day. Defensive midfielder Chema Andres arrived from Stuttgart in a separate deal worth £15.5m, signing a five-year contract at the Amex. The 21-year-old Spain Under-21 international came through Real Madrid's academy, made his La Liga debut in January 2025, and helped Stuttgart qualify for the Champions League during his one season in the Bundesliga.
Brighton's summer has been funded in no small part by the £70m sale of Carlos Baleba to Manchester United. Their club record incoming remains the £45m spent on Tottenham centre-back Luka Vuskovic. Add Azeez and Andres to that list and it amounts to a substantial overhaul of the squad ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
For Millwall, the windfall softens the blow of losing their standout attacker. For Brighton, Azeez is a calculated bet on a player who has earned his shot at the big stage — and the Seagulls have form for making exactly those bets pay.
Frequently asked
- How much did Brighton pay for Femi Azeez?
- Brighton paid an initial £12.5m for Femi Azeez, with add-ons that could take the total fee beyond £15m. It is a record sale for Millwall.
- What contract has Femi Azeez signed at Brighton?
- Azeez has signed a four-year contract at the Amex Stadium after completing his move from Millwall on deadline day.
- How did Femi Azeez perform before joining Brighton?
- Azeez scored 11 goals and registered eight assists in 37 Championship appearances last season, earning a place in the PFA Championship team of the year.