Atlético de Madrid have finalised the permanent transfer of Nigerian international Ademola Lookman from Atalanta, with the 28-year-old forward signing a contract that ties him to the Spanish club until 30 June 2030.
The La Liga side announced the deal on their official website on Monday, describing the acquisition as the arrival of a player who has firmly re-established himself among Europe’s most dangerous attacking talents during a stellar spell in Italy.
In the club’s statement, Atlético confirmed: “Atlético de Madrid and Atalanta have agreed on the transfer of Ademola Lookman, who has signed for us until 30 June 2030.
“Our new signing passed his medical at the Vithas-Invictum High-Performance Sports Medicine Centre at Arturo Soria University Hospital in Madrid, before heading to the club offices at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. There, he was greeted by our Chief Executive Officer, Miguel Ángel Gil, with whom he signed his contract with our club. Welcome, Lookman!”
Lookman’s move to the Spanish capital marks the latest chapter in a career that has seen steady progression from English lower-tier football to the pinnacle of European club competition.
Born in Wandsworth, London, on 20 October 1997, Lookman began his development at local side Waterloo FC before joining Charlton Athletic’s academy. He broke into Charlton’s first team in November 2015, making an immediate impression that caught the attention of Premier League clubs.
Everton secured his services in January 2017, and he went on to gain further experience through loan spells at RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, as well as Fulham and Leicester City back in England. After mixed periods in those leagues, Lookman found his most consistent platform following his permanent transfer to Atalanta in the summer of 2022.
At the Bergamo club, he delivered the finest football of his career to date. Across 137 appearances in all competitions, Lookman registered 55 goals and 27 assists. His most memorable contribution came in the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League final, where he scored all three goals in Atalanta’s 3–0 victory over previously unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen. That historic hat-trick ended Xabi Alonso’s side’s remarkable 51-match unbeaten run and delivered Atalanta their first major European trophy.
The performance cemented Lookman’s reputation as a match-winner capable of deciding the biggest occasions and undoubtedly played a significant role in attracting interest from Europe’s elite clubs.
Internationally, Lookman represented England at various youth levels, including the triumphant 2017 FIFA Under-20 World Cup-winning squad. In March 2022, he switched allegiance to Nigeria, the country of his parents’ heritage, and has since become a key figure for the Super Eagles. He has earned 41 senior caps and scored 11 goals, establishing himself as one of the national team’s most reliable attacking options.
The transfer to Atlético Madrid places Lookman in one of Europe’s most competitive leagues, where he will link up with a side renowned for its intensity and tactical discipline under Diego Simeone. The move also continues a proud tradition of Nigerian players making their mark in La Liga, following in the footsteps of predecessors who have worn the colours of Spain’s top clubs.
