By Ayomide Otitou
Atletico Madrid has reached an agreement with Atalanta to sign Nigerian international Ademola Lookman, the Spanish club confirmed on Sunday.
“(The clubs) have agreed to the transfer of 28-year-old Nigerian international Ademola Lookman, who is already in Madrid,” Atletico said in a statement. “The agreement is pending a medical examination and the signing of his contract.”
Lookman, who scored a hat-trick as Atalanta beat Bayer Leverkusen to win the 2024 Europa League, is reported to cost Atletico around €40 million ($47.5 million). He also played a key role in Nigeria’s run at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
This season, the winger has scored three goals in 19 appearances across all competitions for Atalanta. Born in London, Lookman began his career at Charlton Athletic before joining Everton. After a loan and subsequent permanent move to RB Leipzig in 2019, he had loan spells at Fulham and Leicester City before moving to Atalanta in 2022.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone has been seeking reinforcements after losing Giacomo Raspadori to Atalanta and seeing Conor Gallagher join Tottenham earlier in the winter transfer window. The move also comes as striker Julian Alvarez struggles with a goal drought, failing to score in his last 11 La Liga appearances.
