Ademola Lookman has completed a permanent move from Atalanta BC to Atlético de Madrid, joining the LaLiga side on a deal running from 02/02/2026 to 30/06/2030. The transfer sees the Nigerian-English second striker leave Serie A for Spain in a move concluded for a fee of €35.00m, matching his latest recorded market value.
The switch ends Lookman’s highly productive spell in Bergamo and marks the latest step in a career that has already taken him through the top divisions of England, Germany, and Italy. Atlético secure a 28‑year‑old attacker whose primary position is second striker but who has also been used across the frontline, adding pace, direct running, and one‑v‑one quality to their attack.
Lookman arrives in Madrid with a market valuation of €35.00m, down from a peak of €60.00m during his Atalanta spell but still reflective of his status as a proven performer in a major European league. Atalanta originally signed him from RB Leipzig in the 2022/23 season, and his impact in Serie A saw his value rise sharply, reaching €40.00m by mid‑2024 and then €60.00m in early 2025 before later corrections.
Born in London and standing at 1.74m, Lookman brings dual-national experience to Atlético, having represented Nigeria internationally while also holding English nationality. His club career began at Charlton Athletic’s youth ranks before he broke into Charlton’s first team, earning a move to Everton FC in the Premier League. A series of spells followed: loans to RB Leipzig and Fulham FC, a loan move to Leicester City, and then a permanent transfer to Leipzig before Atalanta made him a central figure in their attack.
Across those stops he has featured in the Championship, Premier League, Bundesliga, and Serie A, each step reflected in a steady rise in his valuation from €500,000 as a teenager at Charlton to multiple double‑digit million valuations in his early twenties. That progression underlines the logic in Atlético’s decision to invest a fee in line with his current market value rather than securing him as a free agent at a later date.
For Atlético, the signing adds a versatile, right‑footed attacker capable of operating off a central striker or drifting wide, fitting neatly into systems that demand quick transitions and high pressing. For Lookman, the move offers the chance to test himself in LaLiga for the first time, exchanging Italian football and his previous experiences in England and Germany for the technical and tactical demands of Spain’s top division.
His contract through to 30/06/2030 provides both stability and a long runway in Madrid, while also preserving resale value for the club should his performances restore or exceed the €60.00m peak he once reached at Atalanta. As he settles into Atlético’s squad, the transfer stands as the latest milestone in a career built on adaptation to new leagues and expectations, and it positions him to shape the next phase of his reputation on one of European football’s biggest stages.
