Millwall’s director of football, Steve Gallen, has revealed that Femi Azeez’s high-profile switch to Brighton & Hove Albion came close to falling apart after the Lions turned down an opening bid from the Premier League side.
The Seagulls ultimately finalized a package surpassing £15 million for the 25-year-old attacker in the dying moments of the summer window, though Millwall were entirely content to keep the Nigerian winger if their asking price was not satisfied.
Gallen detailed how the transaction went down to the wire, noting that Brighton lodged a deal sheet at 10:30 pm—just thirty minutes ahead of the 11:00 pm cutoff—allowing the transfer to be formally finalized at 12:40 am under deadline extensions.
Speaking to Millwall TV, as cited by Southwark News, Gallen stated: “We were all prepared that he was going to stay. In the end, we got the deal we wanted, and he moved on.”
Azeez caught the eye of top-tier suitors after an outstanding individual campaign, netting 11 goals and contributing seven assists to guide Millwall into the Championship play-off semi-finals. Those displays also saw him voted into the PFA Championship Team of the Season. Millwall had previously resisted interest by turning down a mid-season approach in January to support their promotion ambitions, before Brighton finally met their valuation in the summer.
The forward is still waiting for his Brighton debut after picking up an injury in Millwall’s opening league fixture of the season. Having recently rejoined team training, Azeez is working toward making his first appearance for his new club soon.