Spanish powerhouse Atletico Madrid secured the services of Nigeria international Ademola Lookman from Italian club Atalanta on Monday, tying the versatile attacker to a four-year contract as they aim to revive a faltering campaign in La Liga and beyond.
The 28-year-old, who underwent a medical in the Spanish capital before formalizing the deal at the club’s headquarters, arrives after a prolific tenure in Serie A where he emerged as a key figure in European competitions.
In an official welcome, Atletico stated: “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.”
It added: “There, he was greeted by our Chief Executive Officer, Miguel Ángel Gil, with whom he signed his contract with our club. Welcome, Lookman!”
London-born Lookman, who honed his skills at Charlton Athletic before spells at Everton, RB Leipzig, Fulham and Leicester City, truly flourished at Atalanta since 2022, amassing 55 goals and 27 assists in 137 outings.
His crowning moment came in the 2024 Europa League final, where his hat-trick propelled Atalanta to a 3-0 rout of Bayer Leverkusen, clinching the club’s first major European silverware.
On the international front, Lookman initially represented England at under-20 level, lifting the 2017 World Cup, but switched allegiance to Nigeria in 2022, netting 11 times in 41 appearances for the Super Eagles.
The acquisition provides a boost for Diego Simeone’s side, currently struggling for form domestically, as Lookman brings pace, creativity and proven goal threat to the forward line.
