Ademola Lookman

Ademola Lookman is a Nigerian international professional footballer who plays across the forward line. His career has spanned clubs in England, Germany, Italy and Spain, and he is particularly noted for his hat-trick in Atalanta's 2024 UEFA Europa League final victory and for winning the 2024 CAF Men's Player of the Year award.

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About Ademola Lookman

Profile information current to 2026-08-19.

Nigeria · Professional footballer, Forward · 1 affiliation

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Known for: Men's association football; Nigeria men's senior international football; UEFA Europa League
Country: Nigeria

Professional footballer
Forward

At a glance

As of 19 August 2026, Lookman was listed as a first-team forward for Atlético de Madrid.
He has represented Nigeria at senior international level since making his debut on 25 March 2022.
He scored all three goals in Atalanta's 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the 2024 UEFA Europa League final.
He won the 2024 CAF Men's Player of the Year award after a year that also included helping Nigeria reach the Africa Cup of Nations final.

Background and early development

Lookman was born on 20 October 1997 in Wandsworth, London. He played for Waterloo FC in south London before joining Charlton Athletic in 2014, and he made his senior debut for Charlton on 3 November 2015.

Club career

After beginning his senior career with Charlton Athletic, Lookman played for Everton, RB Leipzig, Fulham, Leicester City and Atalanta. His most prominent club achievement came with Atalanta on 22 May 2024, when he scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Europa League final. He joined Atlético de Madrid from Atalanta in February 2026 on a contract the Spanish club said would run through 30 June 2030.

International career

Lookman represented England in youth international football and was part of the country's 2017 FIFA Under-20 World Cup-winning group. He later made his senior debut for Nigeria on 25 March 2022. At the Africa Cup of Nations Côte d'Ivoire 2023, he scored three goals, helped Nigeria reach the final and was selected for the tournament's Team of the Tournament.

Playing role and recognition

Atlético de Madrid describes Lookman as a forward capable of playing as a second striker or on either wing. His performance in the 2024 Europa League final made him the first player recorded by UEFA as scoring a hat-trick in a Europa League final, and he was subsequently named the 2024 CAF Men's Player of the Year.

Affiliations

Atlético de Madrid Forward 2026-02–present

Timeline

2015-11-03 Made his senior debut for Charlton Athletic.
2017 Won the FIFA Under-20 World Cup with England after representing the country at youth level.
2022-03-25 Made his senior international debut for Nigeria.
2022 Joined Atalanta in the summer of 2022.
2024-02-02 Scored Nigeria's winning goal against Angola in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final.
2024-05-22 Scored a hat-trick as Atalanta defeated Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the UEFA Europa League final.
2024 Won the CAF Men's Player of the Year award.
2026-02 Joined Atlético de Madrid from Atalanta on a contract stated to run through 30 June 2030.

Additional verified details

Current context

Atlético de Madrid's official player profile and squad listing identify Lookman as a first-team forward. The club affiliation should be rechecked if this profile is used after the stated as-of date.
Atlético de Madrid states that Lookman signed a contract through 30 June 2030. This is based on the club's transfer announcement; the reviewed official sources do not establish a transfer fee.

Biographical facts

He was born on 20 October 1997 in Wandsworth, London, United Kingdom.
Atlético de Madrid describes him as a forward who can play as a second striker or on either wing.
He played for Waterloo FC in south London before joining Charlton Athletic in 2014.
His documented club career includes Charlton Athletic, Everton, RB Leipzig, Fulham, Leicester City, Atalanta and Atlético de Madrid.
Before representing Nigeria at senior level, he represented England in youth football and was part of England's 2017 FIFA Under-20 World Cup-winning group.
At the Africa Cup of Nations Côte d'Ivoire 2023, he scored three goals, helped Nigeria reach the final and was named in the Team of the Tournament.
He won the 2024 CAF Men's Player of the Year award.