Azeez to join Brighton as Millwall accept record offer
Brighton have agreed a deal with Millwall for winger Femi Azeez. The 25-year-old scored 11 goals and provided eight assists last season, earning a place in the PFA Championship team of the year. The initial fee is £12.5m, potentially rising above £15m with add-ons, which would be a club-record sale for Millwall.
Brighton’s pursuit of Azeez involved multiple rejected bids before an agreement was reached, with the winger left out of Millwall’s last three matchday squads amid the transfer standoff. The fee structure starts at £12.5m and could exceed £15m through add-ons, surpassing Millwall’s previous record sale. Azeez arrived from Reading for roughly £1m in 2024 and has two years left on his contract. His move would make him Brighton’s 11th summer signing, following the £45m acquisition of Luka Vuskovic. The Seagulls have offset spending through sales, including Carlos Baleba’s £70m transfer to Manchester United, while Liverpool have been linked with Yankuba Minteh. Wrexham also showed interest.
This transfer could reshape competitive balance in the Championship, as Millwall loses a key attacking contributor but gains record funds to reinvest. For Brighton, adding a proven second-tier scorer may deepen their squad for Premier League and cup campaigns, potentially affecting matchday selections and fan expectations. The deal also highlights the growing financial gap between divisions, where top-flight clubs routinely poach standout Championship talent, which could influence how lower-league teams approach player development and contract strategies.