Nigerian International Ademola Lookman has joined Atlético Madrid on a contract to 30 June 2030 after completing a medical. The club said in a statement on Monday that the 28-year-old winger has signed for four and a half seasons.
Atlético had reached a preliminary agreement with Atalanta on Sunday, then formalised the transfer after tests and a contract signing at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in front of chief executive Miguel Ángel Gil Marín. The fee is 35 million.
Atlético described Lookman as a versatile right-footer who can play as a second striker or as a winger on either flank, using pace and dribbling to unsettle defences.
Born in Wandsworth, United Kingdom, he later took Nigerian nationality. He came through Waterloo FC and Charlton Athletic, debuting for Charlton’s first team in November 2015, then moved to Everton, Leipzig, Fulham and Leicester City before joining Atalanta in the summer of 2022.
In Bergamo, he was pivotal in Atalanta’s first European trophy, the 2023-24 Europa League, scoring all three goals in the 3-0 final win over Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen. He played 137 games, scoring 55 goals and supplying 27 assists.
Lookman represented England at the youth level and won the Under-20 World Cup in 2017. He made his Nigeria senior debut on 25 March 2022 and has 41 caps and 11 goals.
