Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman is on the brink of a high-profile move to Atlético Madrid, leaving Atalanta to finalize a €35 million transfer to the Spanish capital. The 28-year-old London-born striker was spotted at Bergamo airport heading to Madrid to complete his medicals and officially join the LaLiga side.
Lookman’s decision to join Atlético comes after weeks of speculation linking him to Fenerbahçe in Turkey. While he had reportedly agreed personal terms with the Turkish club, a reunion with Atalanta’s summer frustrations over blocked Inter Milan moves influenced his choice. Atlético’s personal interest in Lookman, led by Diego Simeone, reportedly made the Spanish move more appealing.
The 2024 African Player of the Year has been a key figure for Atalanta since arriving from RB Leipzig in 2022, scoring 55 goals in Serie A. His standout moment came in the 2024 Europa League final, where he netted a hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen, helping Atalanta lift their first European trophy and ending Leverkusen’s 51-match unbeaten streak. That performance cemented his status as only the sixth player ever to score a treble in a European club final and earned him the African Player of the Year title.
Lookman began his professional career at Charlton Athletic in 2015 before moving to Everton in 2017, where he scored on his Premier League debut. After mixed success in England, he impressed during a loan spell at RB Leipzig, making a permanent move in 2019. Following loan stints back in the Premier League with Fulham and Leicester City, Lookman revitalized his career at Atalanta, where he became a central figure in the club’s attack.
His move to Atlético Madrid marks the next step in his career, offering him a chance to shine in one of Europe’s top leagues under Simeone’s guidance and continue building his legacy on the continental stage.
