Transfer: Atlético Madrid Complete €35m Signing of Ademola Lookman from Atalanta
Madrid, February 2, 2026 — Atlético Madrid have finalised the permanent acquisition of Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman from Italian Serie A side Atalanta, PulseNets learnt on transfer deadline day as both clubs confirmed the agreement.
The 28-year-old attacker has signed a long-term contract keeping him at the Spanish capital club until June 30, 2030. The agreement was concluded after Lookman successfully completed his medical examinations at the Vithas-Invictum High-Performance Sports Medicine Centre in Madrid, before formally signing documents at Atlético’s offices close to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, PulseNets obtained.
The transfer fee is reported to stand at an initial €35 million (£30.3m), with performance-related bonuses that could raise the total package to around €40 million. The move ranks among Atlético Madrid’s most notable January business as Diego Simeone intensifies efforts to reinforce his attacking unit following mixed returns from key forwards this season.
A right-footed and tactically flexible forward, Lookman is capable of operating across both wings or in a supporting striker role. He arrives in La Liga after an outstanding spell with Atalanta, whom he joined in 2022. During his time in Bergamo, he recorded 55 goals and 27 assists in 137 appearances across all competitions.
PulseNets reported that Lookman’s legacy at Atalanta was firmly sealed in the 2024 UEFA Europa League final, where his stunning hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen delivered the club’s first-ever European title and brought an end to the German side’s historic unbeaten run.
Atalanta, in a statement, confirmed the permanent nature of the transfer while expressing appreciation for the Nigerian’s impact at the club. Lookman also shared an emotional message with fans, writing: “Bergamo felt like home from day one. Together, we wrote history and lived a European night that will stay with me forever. I carry these memories with pride and gratitude.”
The deal was completed despite strong interest from Turkish giants Fenerbahçe, who had tabled an attractive financial proposal. PulseNets learnt that Lookman ultimately favoured a move to Spain, drawn by the competitive challenge of La Liga and Simeone’s demanding tactical philosophy.
With the transfer, Lookman becomes only the second Nigerian male footballer to represent Atlético Madrid’s senior team, following Abbas Lawal in the early 2000s. His arrival injects pace, creativity, and depth into an attack already featuring Antoine Griezmann, Julián Álvarez, and Alexander Sørloth.
Atlético Madrid currently sit third in the La Liga standings, 10 points adrift of leaders Barcelona after 22 matches, and are preparing for a Copa del Rey quarter-final clash against Real Betis. Club officials believe Lookman’s experience and big-game mentality will be crucial in the decisive months ahead.
The Nigeria international was crowned African Footballer of the Year in 2024 after a standout Africa Cup of Nations campaign, further underlining his status as one of the continent’s elite attackers.
In announcing the signing, Atlético described Lookman as “a dynamic and adaptable forward whose speed, dribbling quality, and finishing ability add a new dimension to our ambitions in domestic and European competitions.”
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PulseNets also observed that the transfer continues a growing exchange between Atlético Madrid and Atalanta, following the Italian club’s earlier capture of Giacomo Raspadori from the Spanish side during the same window.
Ademola Lookman’s switch to Spain marks a defining chapter in his career and adds further international quality to one of La Liga’s most fiercely competitive squads.
