Ademola Lookman: Style of play, stats, international caps, previous clubs, odds, transfer rumours & more

No career path is the same in football and one journey that is especially fascinating is Ademola Lookman's ride from dwindling Premier League prospect to Serie A superstar.

Lauded as one of the brightest talents to emerge from the English Football League when breaking through as a teenager at Charlton Athletic, Lookman navigated a meandering road which encountered disappointments with Everton, RB Leipzig, Fulham and Leicester City.

His latest destination, Bergamo, is where this skilful and intuitive individual has flourished.

Under the guidance of the dynamic Gian Piero Gasperini, Lookman has found a home at Atalanta BC and evolved into one of Europe's most feared forwards, combining his mesmerising agility with subtle movement and clinical finishing.

Leading Atalanta to UEFA Europa League glory with a sensational hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen in the 2024 final, the Nigerian was listed as one of 30 nominees for this year's Ballon d'Or and was later crowned African Footballer of the Year.

Making headlines across Europe and Africa, we assess Lookman's background and development in the latest of our Scouting Europe series.

Ademola Lookman age, nationality and background

Ademola Lookman is 27 years old and was born on 20th October 1997 in Wandsworth, London.

The son of Nigerian parents, Lookman was eligible to play for both England and Nigeria.

Ademola Lookman Attributes

Height and build

Lookman is 5ft 9ins and possesses a lean and muscular frame.

Preferred foot

One of Lookman's best attributes is that he's two footed, though the forward would suggest his right foot is stronger.

Style of play

Utilised in a hybrid wide striker role and as a centre forward, Lookman is a dual-threat in Atalanta's attacking armoury and his ability to operate effectively in constricted spaces makes him a perfect fit in Gasperini's playbook.

Lookman has honed the art of executing timely runs into the penalty area, with the forward able to ghost from wide positions into dangerous spaces inside the 18-yard box. It's a key factor in his ever-improving goal return.

What further enhances the Nigerian's goal threat is the wide range of finishes in his repertoire. Lookman demonstrated that to full effect in the 2024 UEFA Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, scoring with a first-time finish, a curling right-footed effort and a thunderous left-footed strike, the last a fitting way to complete his hat-trick.

When in possession, Lookman naturally relishes driving at an opponent from a wide position and engaging in 1v1 situations where he can either cut inside or beat the defender to the byline.

However, Lookman will frequently find himself in moments where he has to function in half-spaces and congested areas, which accentuates his intricate control, nimble footwork and elusive movement.

On top of his individuality, the 27-year-old has showcased his creative capabilities in Bergamo and can unlock defences by threading an incisive pass or teasing an inviting cross.

Ademola Lookman statistics

Metric	Total (Per 90 minutes)	Rank
Non-penalty goals	0.69	Top 1%
Non-penalty xG	0.42	Top 7%
Goals + Assists	1.10	Top 3%
Shot-creating actions	5.59	Top 1%
Progressive carries	5.11	Top 2%
Carries into penalty area	2.83	Top 2%
Successful take-ons	1.97	Top 4%
Key passes	2.73	Top 1%
Tackles won	0.97	Top 1%

(Statistics obtained from fbref.com and compares to positional peers in Europe's top five leagues over the last 365 days - correct as of 11/12/2024).

Career so far

Previous clubs

A product of Charlton Athletic's fertile youth academy, Lookman joined Everton in an £11 million deal at the age of 19.

With former Toffees boss Sam Allardyce keen for him to sample regular first-team football, a loan deal with Derby County was arranged. However, Lookman felt it would be more beneficial to go elsewhere and insisted on a temporary switch to RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, a move which proved to be extremely fruitful.

Though big things were expected when he headed back to Goodison Park, Lookman's stint on Merseyside was ultimately an unfulfilling one.

He returned to Leipzig on a permanent basis in 2019 but was largely anonymous in Saxony before subsequent loan spells at Fulham and Leicester City, with neither whetting the appetite of Premier League clubs who may have fancied Lookman on a permanent basis.

A deal arose with Atalanta in the summer of 2022, a move which has reignited Lookman's career and enabled him to scale the heights that were first anticipated.

International experience

Progressing through the England youth ranks from U19 level, Lookman was a member of the Under-20 World Cup winning squad in 2017 and had been on the periphery of Gareth Southgate's thinking following his switch to Everton.

The Nigerian Football Association were rebuffed by Lookman on multiple occasions, but their persistence paid dividends as the forward eventually pledged his international allegiance to the Super Eagles and in February 2022, the request was formally approved by FIFA.

Lookman made his senior international debut a month later in a World Cup qualifier against Ghana and he's since developed into a indispensable figure in the Nigeria squad.

Though Lookman endured final heartache in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations against the Ivory Coast, the forward endeared himself to Nigerian supporters and his performances merited a spot in the Team of the Tournament.

Ademola Lookman odds

Serie A

UEFA Champions League

Ballon d'Or 2025

(Odds will display when markets are available)

Ademola Lookman transfer rumours

Inevitably Lookman has been collared by a substantial list of Europe's elite clubs. The Nigerian was the subject of intense speculation in the summer but opted to remain at the Gewiss Stadium.

Arsenal have been long-term admirers of the forward and Manchester United are reportedly keeping tabs, while Paris Saint-Germain have been linked with Lookman for the best part of a year.

180km southeast of Bergamo in Turin, Italian media outlets have suggested Juventus are eyeing a summer move.

Lookman is under contract with Atalanta until 2026 and La Dea reportedly value him at €60–70 million.

Ademola Lookman: What they said

The Mister (Gasperini) is very big on playing forward and creating many opportunities to score goals. For me, he has made my football much simpler in how I think about it. I feel like I understand football a lot more now.

Ademola Lookman on Gian Piero Gasperini's influence (The Athletic)

He (Lookman) has had a fantastic evolution. He did well right from the start, even two years ago when he played alongside (Rasmus) Hojlund. His consistency has improved and right now, he is among the best players in the world.

Gian Piero Gasperini on Ademola Lookman's progression (Goal Italia)