Coventry secure loan deal for Brighton midfielder Yasin Ayari

Coventry City has bolstered its midfield ranks by confirming the loan signing of Yasin Ayari from Brighton and Hove Albion.

The young Swedish international will be plying his trade with the Sky Blues throughout the 2023/24 season.

At only 19 years old, Yasin Ayari has already made strides in professional football.

He first showcased his prowess with AIK, stepping onto the professional scene in December 2020 at just 17.

During his tenure at the Swedish club, he made 48 appearances and netted six goals, establishing himself as one of the bright prospects in Swedish football.

Brighton and Hove Albion, recognizing his talent, secured his services in January 2023 for an undisclosed amount, binding him to a four-year contract.

He marked his entry into the English Premier League with a debut during Brighton's emphatic 5-0 victory against Grimsby Town in the FA Cup.

Ayari further received the nod three times in the Premier League last season, with his full league debut coming in May.

Internationally, Ayari's skill hasn't gone unnoticed. He has represented Sweden across various youth levels, progressing from the Under 17s to the Under 21s.

His meteoric rise was capped off with a full international debut in a friendly against Finland, followed by another appearance against Iceland.

Speaking on the new acquisition, Coventry City's Manager, Mark Robins, expressed his delight.

“We’re very pleased to welcome Yasin to Coventry City. He is a versatile player who can play across the midfield area, but predominantly central, and is technically adept too with pace and energy."

"He had an impressive spell at AIK in Sweden where he played a lot of games for his age and is highly thought of at Brighton, who signed him in January. We’d like to thank Brighton for allowing Yasin to join us on loan now and we look forward to working with him this season.”

When asked about why he chose Coventry City, Ayari expressed his admiration for the club and its playing style.

“I think it’s an amazing club with amazing fans and when I spoke to the coach I fell in love with the style of play,” he said.

A connection to the club already existed for Ayari through Viktor Gyokeres, a former Sky Blue.

“I’ve been watching because of Viktor (Gyokeres) and I watched bits of last season when they did really well and I really like the style of play,” Ayari explained.

He further emphasized Gyokeres' performance, stating, “He’s a really good player and he showed it last year and he showed the club is doing a really good job and it wasn’t a hard decision for me to come here.”

On the topic of moving to England, the midfielder showed no hesitation in lauding the country's premier league.

“England is good. The Premier League is the best in the world, so this is the best place to develop and play football," he declared.

Ayari further elaborated on his loan decision, noting, "I’ve decided to come on loan to Coventry because I think it’s the right move for me to develop and become a better player.”

Ayari also provided insights into his playing style and what fans can expect from him on the pitch. “I’m a midfielder who likes to have the ball and I like to drive, and I like to score goals and make assists and defend,” he detailed.

The prospect of playing at the Coventry Building Society Arena has Ayari eagerly anticipating his debut.

“I’m really excited, I’ve been waiting for this (play at the CBS Arena) since I found out about the move and I’m really looking forward to it,” he exclaimed.