Atalanta Forward Ademola Lookman Completes €35m Transfer To Atletico Madrid

Ademola Lookman has completed his €35million switch from Atalanta to Spanish giants Atletico Madrid. 

Lookman has put pen to paper on a four-year-deal and will wear the number 22 shirt for Atletico. He will become just the second Nigerian to represent the LaLiga side after Abass Lawal.

The 2024 Europa League final hero waves goodbye to La Dea after three-and-a-half seasons in Bergamo. Not only did Lookman score the historic hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen, he landed the 2024 African Footballer of the Year award for his exploits.

Lookman also won Atalanta’s Player of the Year award on two occassions and earned a place in the Serie A Team of the Year for 2024-25.

Welcome to Atleti, Ademola Lookman! 🇳🇬👋 pic.twitter.com/UvHvNtCv7c

— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) February 2, 2026

Ademola Lookman Transfers To Atletico Madrid

Since Ademola Lookman’s transfer request was handed in last year, a move away from Atalanta was always on the cards. Especially as he went public via social media.

His August antics certainly upset LaDea supporters who had grown to idolize the Nigeria international since he moved to the New Balance Arena in 2022.

Lookman’s transformation in Italy saw him fire home 55 goals in 137 appearances for the Bergamo-based side. He quickly became a fan’s favorite after previously struggling in England.

Owing to his stunning revival, Lookman’s LaLiga switch comes as little surprise to compatriot Mutiu Adepoju. The former Super Eagles star suggested in July a move to Spain’s elite would suit Lookman.

And that is exactly what the 28-year-old forward has gone on to do. Lookman’s move to Atletico Madrid will allow him to test himself against the world’s finest players.

Meanwhile, it will allow Juventus’s pursuit of Alexander Sorloth to run more smoothly. The Bianconeri are looking at the Atleti striker who is likely to make way for Lookman in Diego Simeone’s starting XI.

Who Could Atalanta Sign To Replace Ademola Lookman?

Even after it looked like Fenerbahce would sign Ademola Lookman, Atalanta were already lining up a number of potential replacements.

However, the vast majority of them will be targeted in the summer. La Dea signed Giacomo Raspadori from under Roma’s noses earlier this window.

The Azzurri forward is considered by head coach Raffaele Palladino to be adequate cover for the second-half of the campaign with the Bergamo-based side fighting on three fronts.

Ironically, Raspadori was signed from Atletico Madrid who in turn, have now brought Lookman to the Metropolitano stadium. The transfer merry-go-round has the potential to work out well for both teams.

As for Palladino’s shortlist, Swedish starlet Williot Swedberg is very much being discussed. The Celta Vigo winger scored twice as the LaLiga side toppled Real Madrid 2-0 at the Bernabeu last year.

Yassir Zabiri is also a consideration alongside Igor Tyjon. The latter is also attracting interest from Arsenal who have had a reported bid of €1.15m turned down.