Tag: Ademola Lookman

Ademola Lookman kick-started his Atletico Madrid career in spectacular fashion, scoring on his debut during yesterday’s 5-0 thrashing of Real Betis.

The Copa del Rey quarter-final, held in Seville, saw the Nigerian international immediately repay the club’s faith. Signed just this past Monday from Atalanta in a €40 million deal, Lookman justified the investment in his very first outing. He netted Atletico’s third goal as the visitors raced to a dominant 3-0 first-half lead against their La Liga rivals.

David Hancko opened the scoring for Atletico, heading home in the 12^th  minute. Continuing their total dominance, the Rojiblancos doubled their lead at the half-hour mark when Giuliano Simeone rifled a right-footed shot into the net.

Read Also: Morocco 2025: NFF backs  Chelle to achieve future greater things with Eagles

Lookman, who remained in the thick of the action throughout, found his moment in the 37^th  minute. He powered home a right-footed strike to the delight of the travelling fans, marking his first goal for the club.

Atletico refused to let up after the break. Antoine Griezmann and Thiago Almada added further goals in the 62^nd  and 83^rd  minutes, respectively, to complete the 5-0 scoreline.

Lookman’s move to Madrid is already being hailed as one of the most significant transfers by an African player in this January window. Notably, the 28-year-old has made history as the first Nigerian to play in the Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, and now La Liga.

“I’m coming to another top league, in a top country, with a new language. I’m very excited about it,” Lookman said upon his arrival. “It’s a blessing to be at such a massive club.”

With a debut goal under his belt, Lookman appears ready to conquer Spanish football.

Ademola Lookman has penned an emotional farewell message to Atalanta after completing his transfer to Spanish giants Atlético Madrid, bringing an end to a memorable near four-year spell in Bergamo.

The Nigeria international confirmed his departure in a heartfelt message posted on his official X handle, where he reflected on the defining moments of his time with the Serie A club and expressed gratitude to the fans, teammates, and staff who shaped his journey.

“After nearly four years, the time has come for me to say goodbye,” Lookman wrote. “From the moment I arrived in Bergamo, you welcomed me like one of your own and pushed me to be the best version of myself.”

Lookman leaves Atalanta as one of the most iconic figures in the club’s recent history. 

His crowning moment came during the 2023/24 season when he produced a historic hat-trick in the UEFA Europa League final, firing Atalanta to their first-ever European title and ending a 61-year wait for a major trophy. The performance not only etched his name into Atalanta folklore but also placed him among the elite performers in European finals.

Reflecting on that achievement, Lookman described the triumph as unforgettable, noting that the memories from that night will remain with him forever. He also highlighted his personal milestone of winning the 2024 African Player of the Year award while still an Atalanta player, describing it as an honour he will always cherish.

Read Also: Galatasaray table massive bid for Ademola Lookman

“Those moments, those emotions, those nights under the lights, they’re engraved in my heart,” he added.

The forward went on to thank his teammates, coaching staff, and club officials for their support throughout his stay, while reserving special praise for the Atalanta supporters, whose passion and unwavering belief, he said, played a crucial role in the team’s success.

“Every cheer, every banner, every away trip meant something. Thank you for making Bergamo feel like home and for giving me memories I’ll carry forever,” Lookman wrote, signing off with the words, “Grazie di tutto, ciao.”

Lookman officially completed his transfer to Atlético Madrid today, marking a new chapter in his career as he prepares for the challenge of La Liga under Diego Simeone. The move sees the Super Eagles star take his experience, flair, and big-game pedigree to Spain, following a spell in Italy that will be remembered as one of the most successful periods in Atalanta’s history.

Napoli are understood to have renewed their interest in Ademola Lookman, but experts maintained this transfer will be very complicated because of the financial fair play rules affecting the Serie A champions.

Italian newspaper II Mattino reported that Ademola Lookman, back from an impressive outing at the AFCON, is set to quit Atalanta between now and the summer.

Read Also: 16th Round: NFF agree to pay Super Eagles $30,000 each

He is Napoli ‘real’ transfer target, according to the newspaper, but the financial implications of this deal are “extremely complicated” particularly as the “zero balance” situation of Napoli will not change between now and February 2, when the transfer window in Italy is shut.

Atalanta coach Raffaele Palladino has praised Nigerian international striker Ademola Lookman for his professional conduct in joining the rest of his teammates in time for tonight’s UEFA Champions League date against visiting Athletic Club.

Lookman was one of the Super Eagles’ standout performers at the recent AFCON tournament, where he scored three  goals as well as the winning kick in the penalty shoot-out victory against the Pharaohs of Egypt in the bronze medal match.

According to an impressed Palladino, the 2024 African Footballer of the Year has swiftly returned to the Bergamo side ahead of schedule as he wanted to be involved against Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League.

“On paper, he was supposed to return tomorrow (Wednesday),”  Palladino told his press conference as per Football Italia. “But he wanted to play in this game at all costs.

“He’s showing a sense of attachment to this team and I’m happy about that,” he added.

Meanwhile, Palladino believes that Atalanta have a ‘great opportunity’ in tonight’s Champions League duel against Athletic Bilbao.

Atalanta sit in an impressive fifth place in the Champions League standings, level on points with PSG and Manchester City in third and fourth respectively. They all have 13 points from their first six games in the competition this season.

La Dea have also won three of their last four Serie A matches, but were held to a 1-1 draw over the weekend.

“We’ll start again with the spirit that we’ve had over the last two months,” he said. “The Champions League gives you a big competitive charge, but that should also be the case in the league.

Read Also: Victor Osimhen not leaving AFCON camp — NFF official

“We have a great opportunity to do well tomorrow. We’ve had six victories since the Chelsea game and that shows that the team is growing game after game.”

Asked if Atalanta have an issue in games against ‘smaller’ sides, an accusation that has also been pointed at other top teams this season,  Palladino replied: “It’s happening to everyone. Anything can happen in a game, even the smaller sides can make the difference. We have to have the right mentality but we also have to give credit to our opponents.”

Palladino was asked whether he thinks 16 points will be enough to earn a spot in the Champions League round of 16 this season.

“The new format is very compelling,” he said. “However, we don’t make calculations. We think game by game. We want to make history. We’re facing a well-prepared and very strong team. They might have a few absences and a few poor results over the last few weeks, but it can all be turned around in the Champions League. Atalanta will have to put in a great performance and the difference will be in the details.”

Coach Eric Sekou Chelle and striker Ademola Lookman have both praised the impactful performances of new Super Eagles forward Akor Jerome Adams at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. The 25-year-old Sevilla striker, making his AFCON debut, scored his first goal in the tournament during Nigeria’s emphatic 4-0 win over Mozambique in the Round of 16.

This marked Akor’s fourth appearance in the competition, and both Chelle and Lookman highlighted his significant contribution to Nigeria’s journey to the quarter-finals.

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Lookman told ESPN:  “Akor’s a very, very strong player. He brings different qualities to the other attackers. Obviously, his game understanding is there, he understands that sometimes he drops and sometimes he plays. He’s not just a number nine, but he pins defenders back, holds the ball up, there are different elements to his game. As long as he continues to perform like that, he will continue growing and growing, and will get better and better.”

Coach Chelle emphasized Akor’s tactical versatility and teamwork:  “[Akor’s] a player who brings a lot of movement on the pitch, he brings a lot. He’s a player with many qualities, to play with others, to make them shine, and he has amazing physical capacity, it’s very impressive. I’m very happy with him, and with all of the players in the group. We’re crafting a group here, and it’s the group that makes the difference. The goals we score come from collective moments. It’s not one player who beats 10 players with a dribble and scores, these collective moves are what makes the team shine. I’m very happy with him, but it’s just one match, and we must focus on the next one.”

Akor first impressed with Nigeria’s U-20 team at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup. However, injuries delayed his senior call-up until October 2025 when Chelle handed him his debut during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin, scoring as a substitute against Lesotho.

Chelle, who previously coached the Mali national team, has been following Akor’s development since his days at Montpellier, where he played alongside some Malian players.

With such praise and confidence from both coach and teammates, the energetic forward looks set to be a key asset as the Super Eagles pursue their fourth AFCON title in Morocco 2025.

Fenerbahce are stepping up their pursuit of Ademola Lookman and are preparing an opening bid for the Atalanta forward as they look to land another high-profile signing in January.

According to Sport Mediaset journalist Orazio Accomando, the Turkish club are ready to table an offer structured as a paid loan worth €5 million, with a right, or potential obligation, to buy set at €37 million (about N62 Billion) .

Talks are still at an early stage, but Fenerbahce have identified Lookman as a priority target to strengthen their attack.

Atalanta, however, would prefer a permanent transfer rather than a temporary solution.

Read Also: Morocco 2025:  NFF launches NAIJA 4 THE WIN campaign for Super Eagles

The Bergamo-based club value Lookman highly following his performances in Serie A and Europe and are reluctant to accept a deal that delays a full sale unless the conditions are particularly favourable.

The Nigeria international, currently at the African Cup of Nations, remains a key figure for Atalanta, but interest from abroad has continued to grow, with Fenerbahce now pushing to test the club’s stance.

It comes after a summer that saw the former Fulham man heavily linked with a move to Inter Milan, even going as so far as to try and force a move away from the club. However, Inter refused to meet Atalanta’s demands and the player stayed in Bergamo.

Any progress is likely to depend on whether the Turkish side are willing to convert their proposal into a straight transfer or include an obligation to buy under achievable conditions.

For now, negotiations have not yet entered an advanced phase, but Fenerbahce’s willingness to commit significant funds suggests the situation could develop quickly in the coming days.

•Chelle is best coach

Nigeria striker Ademola Lookman has been included among the best players in the group stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.                        

 The 28-year-old winger is the only Nigerian player selected in the AFCON line-up of best performers during the group phase, according to the list released by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Friday.  Lookman scored two goals and assisted twice as Nigeria waltzed into the round of 16 with nine maximum points from three games in Group C.The Atalanta player scored the winner in the opener against Tanzania, before scoring a brilliant third goal in Nigeria’s victory over Tunisia.         Eric Chelle, Super Eagles of Nigeria head coach, was also named the best manager during the group stage for his team’s performance.             Morocco had two players, Brahim Diaz and Noussair Mazraoui, included in the best eleven, with Cote d’Ivoire’s Amad Diallo leading the attack.  

Read Also: 16th Round: NFF agree to pay Super Eagles $30,000 each

Senegal’s Sadio Mane and Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez complete the attack, while Egypt’s Mohamed El Shenawy is selected in goal.Cameroon’s Carlos Baleba, Axel Tuanzebe of Congo DR, Ali Abdi of Tunisia, and Burkina Faso defender Edmond Tapsoba complete the best XI.

Ademola Lookman appears to have finally found peace with Atalanta after a bitter summer transfer saga during which he wanted out of the Italian club.

He has recovered his social media postings that referenced Atalanta, and even his profile photo on Instagram is that of him in an Atalanta shirt.

He has “unachieved” photos like he lifting the Europa League with Atalanta and celebrating his goals with the team. This was after he first took them down 111 days ago.

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But even at that he has received a lot of comments from obviously Galatasaray fans, who wish he reunites with fellow Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen at the Turkish champions.

This week, new Atalanta coach Raffaele Palladino made it clear that Ademola Lookman is one of his key players to take the club back to their proper place on the Serie A table. Atalanta are currently 13th on the table.

Turkish giants Galatasaray have reportedly submitted a substantial offer for Ademola Lookman, who remains unsettled at Atalanta after the summer transfer saga that did not go his way.

According to Calciomercato, Galatasaray have submitted a concrete and substantial offer for the Super Eagles forward.

The report stated that Galatasaray consider the former Leipzig player a top priority.

The offer is described as significant and could impact the upcoming winter transfer window. If Atalanta accepted the offer, the transfer could be one of the most notable of the window.

Lookman is highly valued and he is under contract until the summer of 2027, and is paid 2,310,000 euros per year in Italy.

Atalanta will sell Lookman for a suitable offer, with the condition that any transfer must be a permanent deal or a loan that includes a mandatory purchase option.

Read Also: CAF Awards: Ajibade, Nnadozie lead Nigeria’s charge for women honours

According to Giordano Signorelli, Tuttosport’s Atalanta correspondent, the price for the player is approximately €50-55 million including bonuses, a figure that has not changed from a few months ago.

Lookman wants to change clubs because he has not fully adapted in Bergamo, but Atalanta is setting the conditions for a transfer.

The subject of Lookman and Galatasaray was discussed at the end of August. Giordano Signorelli reported that at that time, the player gave his approval for the transfer if the two clubs could reach an agreement, but an agreement was not reached.

Super Eagles attacker Ademola Lookman has been named in the Serie A Team of the Week for gameweek nine, Soccernet.ng reports.

Lookman ended his five-month goal drought in Atalanta’s Serie A fixture against AC Milan on Tuesday. The Super Eagles star scored in the first half of the game, as he beat Mike Maignan with a wicked piledriver from inside the box. That goal eventually helped his side secure a 1-1 draw.

That goal was Atalanta’s first goal at their home since the start of October. It took them to ninth on the Serie A table.

Read Also: Ballon d’Or: NFF congratulates Nnadozie, Madugu

Aside from his goal, Lookman had a really lively game, with three successful dribbles, 84 percent pass accuracy, and three key passes.

Per Sofascore, the Super Eagles star was the highest-rated Atalanta player on the pitch.

Following his performance, the Serie A have now included Lookman in their Team of the Week. This is an honour for the best players in their different positions for the gameweek.

Ademola Lookman had a slow start to the campaign, as he fell out with the club due to their refusal to let him leave last summer. He missed the first few games, but it seems that he is slowly returning to his best.