Ademola Lookman is one of the finest forwards in world football, a dynamic, versatile attacker who was crowned African Footballer of the Year in 2024. Famous for scoring a hat-trick in the Europa League final for Atalanta, the London-born Nigeria international earned a big-money move to Atlético Madrid and remains a talismanic figure for the Super Eagles.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ademola Lookman |
| Nationality | Nigeria |
| Date of Birth | 20 October 1997 |
| Latest club | Atlético Madrid |
| League | La Liga (ESP) |
| Position | Winger |
| Market value | €40.00m |
Playing style: A versatile, explosive attacker
Lookman is a quick, direct forward who can play across the front line and thrives cutting inside onto his stronger foot.
- ⚡ Pace: Explosive acceleration that terrifies defenders in one-on-ones.
- 🪄 Dribbling: A superb ball-carrier able to beat opponents in tight spaces.
- 🔀 Versatility: Comfortable on either wing, as a second striker or through the middle.
- 🎯 Finishing: Clinical in front of goal, as his Europa League final hat-trick showed.
- 🅰️ Creativity: Combines goals with assists and incisive final-third play.
Career: From Charlton to European glory
Lookman’s career took him from English youth football through the Bundesliga and Premier League to stardom in Italy and Spain.
English beginnings and a Bundesliga move
Lookman began at Charlton Athletic before joining Everton in 2017. A loan spell at RB Leipzig went so well that the German club signed him permanently, though further loans at Fulham and Leicester City followed as he searched for a settled home.
It was a move to Atalanta in 2022 that transformed his career, giving him the platform to become one of the most feared attackers in Serie A and on the European stage.
Atalanta stardom and a Madrid move
At Atalanta, Lookman scored freely and produced the defining moment of his career, a hat-trick in the 2024 Europa League final as the Italian side beat Bayer Leverkusen to lift their first major European trophy. The performance helped him become African Footballer of the Year.
In February 2026 he completed a move to Atlético Madrid, joining Diego Simeone’s side in La Liga on a long-term contract and taking his talents to another of Europe’s biggest clubs.
| Team (Appea.) | Goals |
|---|---|
| RB Leipzig (55) | 12 |
| Fulham (loan) (35) | 4 |
| Atalanta (137) | 55 |
| Atlético Madrid (25) | 5 |
International career: A Super Eagles talisman
Lookman represented England at youth level, winning the 2017 Under-20 World Cup, before switching to Nigeria in 2022. He has since become one of the Super Eagles’ most important players, scoring crucial goals at major tournaments.
He starred as Nigeria reached the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final and finished third at the 2025 edition, and his 2024 African Footballer of the Year award came a year after compatriot Victor Osimhen claimed the same honour.
| Competition (Stage) | MP (Goal) |
|---|---|
| AFCON 2023 (Runners-up) | 6 (3) |
| AFCON 2025 (Third place) | 6 (2) |
Clubs journey: England, Germany, Italy and Spain
Lookman’s career has taken him across England, Germany, Italy and Spain, with his transformative years at Atalanta establishing him among the world’s best forwards.
An African Footballer of the Year and a European trophy winner still in his prime, Lookman is one of the standout names in Nigerian football today.
| Years | Club |
|---|---|
| 2015–2017 | Charlton Athletic |
| 2017–2019 | Everton |
| 2019–2022 | RB Leipzig |
| 2022–2026 | Atalanta |
| 2026–Present | Atlético Madrid |