Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion have completed the signing of highly-rated Nigerian forward Valentin Joseph from Championship club Blackburn Rovers, the Seagulls confirmed in a statement on their official website.

The 18-year-old becomes the second Nigerian youngster to join Brighton during the current transfer window, following the arrival of compatriot Zadok Yohanna, who was signed from Sweden for a reported Allsvenskan-record €28 million fee.

Unlike Yohanna, who has been integrated into Fabian Hürzeler's senior squad, Joseph will initially continue his development with Brighton's Under-21 team.

Joseph arrives on the south coast after mutually agreeing to terminate his contract with Blackburn, allowing him to complete a free transfer to the Amex Stadium.

The promising striker enjoyed a prolific campaign last season, scoring 21 goals across all competitions for Blackburn's youth sides.

His standout performances came in the FA Youth Cup, where he finished as the tournament's leading scorer with nine goals, helping Blackburn reach the semi-finals.

Joseph also demonstrated his ability at Under-21 level, contributing seven goals and assists in 18 appearances across the Premier League 2, Premier League Cup and National League Cup.

Brighton have rewarded the talented teenager with a three-year contract that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2029.

The move represents another significant step in Joseph's development as he joins a club widely recognised for nurturing young talents into Premier League stars.

For the Nigerian forward, the switch offers an ideal platform to continue his progress while aiming to follow in the footsteps of several African players who have flourished at Brighton before establishing themselves on the international stage.