Ademola Lookman Biography
Ademola Lookman born on 20th of October, 1997, is a pro football player who plays as a winger for Atalanta in Serie A and also represents Nigeria’s Super Eagles in international matches.
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Early Life
Lookman hails from Wandsworth in Greater London and grew up surrounded by football. He went to St Thomas the Apostle College in Nunhead, where he shone academically, scoring three A* and five As in his GCSEs. His football career kicked off at the grassroots level with Waterloo, a youth club in Lambeth, where his raw talent was clear from the start.
Ademola Lookman’s club career
Ademola Lookman kicked off his professional career in 2014 when he joined the academy at Charlton Athletic after catching attention at a youth club called Waterloo in London. He quickly made a name for himself with his impressive goal-scoring abilities in the U-18 and U-21 teams, moving up the ranks in no time.
Lookman made his first-team debut for the ‘Addicks’ on November 3, 2015, and he didn’t hold back in making his mark. Just a month later, he scored his first professional goal, even though it came in a tough loss to Brighton & Hove Albion. He kept the momentum going, scoring twice in a 2-2 draw against Bolton Wanderers shortly after.
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Everton and Loan to RB Leipzig
In January 2017, Lookman joined Everton for around £7.5 million, potentially increasing to £11 million with bonuses. He hit the ground running by scoring in his first game, helping the team to a 4-0 victory over Manchester City. Unfortunately, he didn’t get many chances to play regularly at Everton, so in January 2018, he went on loan to RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga. He made a splash there right away, netting the decisive goal in his debut against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
RB Leipzig and Further Loans
Lookman made a splash at Leipzig right away. He came off the bench and scored a thrilling winner on his debut, clinching the game against Borussia Mönchengladbach. This loan stint kicked off Lookman’s journey as a player who could adapt and shine at different clubs and leagues.
Even though Lookman shone during his time at Leipzig, Everton decided to bring him back for good in July 2019, signing him to a five-year deal. Still, getting regular game time was tough. Wanting more chances to play, Lookman set off on another loan in September 2020, this time with Fulham in the Premier League for the 2020/21 season. He quickly found his feet, netting his first goal for the Cottagers against Sheffield United in October.
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Atalanta
Ademola Lookman’s career has definitely been a wild ride. Even though he’s always had the skills, his early days were filled with loan moves that earned him the label of a “journeyman.” But everything changed in August 2022 when he finally found a permanent spot at Serie A powerhouse Atalanta, and that was the game-changer he needed.
Right off the bat, Lookman made waves at Atalanta, scoring in his first match and keeping up that momentum all season long. In January 2023, he went on a scoring spree, netting two goals in three straight games – one against Salernitana in Serie A, another in the Coppa Italia against Spezia, and a thrilling draw with Juventus. This hot streak solidified his role as a key player for Atalanta and a rising star in Italian football. But Lookman’s achievements go beyond just the local scene.
He made history in European football by being the first player to score a hat-trick in a Europa League final, helping Atalanta snag their first major European trophy. This win was a huge personal victory for Lookman, as it marked his first major trophy after nine years in the game, especially after just missing out on the Coppa Italia a week earlier.
With his Europa League win, Lookman joins an elite group of Nigerians who have triumphed in this tournament. He follows in the footsteps of legends like Taribo West and Nwankwo Kanu (1998 with Lazio), John Mikel Obi (2013 with Chelsea), Victor Moses (2019 with Chelsea), and Chidi Odiah (2005 with CSKA Moscow), securing his spot among Nigeria’s Europa League champions.
Winning the Europa League wasn’t just a personal milestone; it represented a fantastic turnaround for Lookman at Atalanta.
Ademola Lookman’s Ballon d’Or nomination and position
Ademola Lookman had an incredible 2024, earning the title of CAF Player of the Year and solidifying his reputation as the top attacking player on the continent. He outperformed notable contenders like Achraf Hakimi and Serhou Guirassy to take home the award.
Given his stellar performances, especially with Atalanta where he scored a hat-trick in the UEFA Europa League final, it was clear he was a strong candidate for the Ballon d’Or. His efforts helped the club secure its first European trophy.
By the end of the 2023/2024 season, Lookman had tallied 17 goals and 10 assists across 45 matches, also making a significant impact for Nigeria with four goal contributions during the 2023 AFCON, where they finished as runners-up. In the current 2024/25 season, he’s continued to shine, racking up 14 goals and 7 assists in just 27 games.
With his 14th-place finish in the Ballon d’Or rankings, Lookman now holds the third-highest position for a Nigerian, following Osimhen’s eighth place in 2023 and Kanu Nwankwo’s eleventh place in 1996.
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Ademola Lookman’s salary and net worth
Ademola Lookman takes home £41,000 every week, which adds up to a yearly salary of £2,132,000 for the 2023/24 season.
His net worth is estimated to be between £7 million and £12.7 million, showing how well he’s doing in the football scene.