By Crystal Ugoeze
Atlético de Madrid have lavished praise on newly signed Nigerian international Ademola Lookman, describing him as a dynamic, world-class attacker following the completion of his transfer from Atalanta. The Spanish club confirmed that the 28-year-old, whose pace, versatility and big-game pedigree have earned widespread admiration, has signed a long-term deal that will keep him at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano until 30 June 2030.
A versatile, right-footed attacker, Lookman is known for his dynamism and adaptability. He can operate as a second striker or play on either wing, where his pace, close control and dribbling ability allow him to cut inside or stretch defences from wide areas.
Born on 20 October 1997 in Wandsworth, London, Lookman is a naturalised Nigerian who developed through the youth systems of Waterloo FC and Charlton Athletic. He made his senior debut for Charlton on 3 November 2015, before gaining further top-level experience with Everton, RB Leipzig, Fulham and Leicester City. He joined Atalanta in the summer of 2022.
During his time in Bergamo, Lookman re-established himself as one of Europe’s most effective attackers. He played a pivotal role in Atalanta’s first-ever continental triumph, the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League, memorably scoring a stunning hat-trick in the 3–0 final victory over Bayer Leverkusen—handing the German side their only defeat of the season.
Across all competitions, Lookman featured in 137 matches for Atalanta, scoring 55 goals and providing 27 assists, cementing his status as a club icon during his short but historic spell.
Internationally, Lookman represented England at youth level and was part of the squad that won the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He made his senior debut for Nigeria on 25 March 2022 and has since earned 41 caps, scoring 11 goals for the Super Eagles.
The forward successfully completed his medical examination at the Vithas-Invictum High-Performance Sports Medicine Centre at Arturo Soria University Hospital in Madrid. He later visited the club’s offices at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, where he was officially welcomed by Atlético de Madrid’s Chief Executive Officer, Miguel Ángel Gil, and signed his contract.