Millwall director of football Steve Gallen says Femi Azeez‘s move to Brighton nearly fell through after the Championship club initially rejected the Premier League side’s offer for the Nigeria winger.
Brighton eventually agreed a deal worth more than £15m for the 25-year-old on the final day of the summer transfer window, but Millwall were prepared to keep him if their valuation was not met.
Gallen revealed that Brighton submitted the required deal sheet at 22:30 before the 23:00 deadline, with Azeez completing his move at 00:40 under the extended transfer arrangements.
“We were all prepared that he was going to stay,” Gallen told Millwall TV, as reported by Southwark News. “In the end, we got the deal we wanted, and he moved on.”
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Azeez attracted Premier League interest after scoring 11 goals and providing seven assists as Millwall reached the Championship play-off semi-finals. His performances also earned him a place in the PFA Championship Team of the Season.
Millwall had rejected an offer for the winger in January as they pursued promotion, but Brighton eventually met their demands in the summer.
Azeez has yet to make his Brighton debut after suffering an injury during Millwall’s opening-day Championship match. He has since returned to training and will hope to feature for his new club soon.
