Atlético Madrid on Monday officially confirmed the signing of Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman, on a permanent transfer from Atalanta.

“Atlético de Madrid and Atalanta have agreed on the transfer of Ademola Lookman, who has signed for us until 30 June 2030,” the Spanish La Liga club announced on its website.

“A versatile and dynamic right-footed player at 28 years of age, he is capable of playing both as a second striker and as a winger on either flank – either cutting inside or staying on his natural side – where he makes the most of his pace and dribbling ability.

“Our new signing passed his medical at the Vithas-Invictum High-Performance Sports Medicine Centre at Arturo Soria University Hospital in Madrid, before heading to the club offices at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

“There, he was greeted by our Chief Executive Officer, Miguel Ángel Gil, with whom he signed his contract with our club. Welcome, Lookman.”

Born on 20 October 1997 in Wandsworth (London, United Kingdom), although a naturalised Nigerian, he was brought up in the youth ranks of Waterloo FC and Charlton Athletic, the latter being where he made his first senior debut on 3 November 2015.

He later continued to add to his professional experience, wearing the colours of Everton, Leipzig, Fulham and Leicester City, before arriving at Atalanta in the summer of 2022.

At Atalanta, Lookman re-established himself as one of the leading attackers on the world stage and he was a key part of the club’s first-ever continental trophy: the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League.

In the final, Atalanta beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-0, with Lookman scoring all three goals and handing the German side their only defeat all season. As a ‘nerazzurri’, Lookman played in a total of 137 matches, scored 55 goals and made 27 assists.

An England international at youth level, he won the Under-20 World Cup with the Three Lions in 2017. On 25 March 2022, he made his debut for the Nigerian senior national team, with whom he has played 41 games and scored 11 goals.

Following his transfer to Atlético, Lookman took to his verified X account to pen an emotional farewell note to Atalanta and the fans of the Italian Serie A club.

“To the Atalanta family , after nearly four years, the time has come for me to say goodbye. From the moment I arrived in Bergamo, you welcomed me like one of your own and pushed me to be the best version of myself,” the 28-year-old wrote.

“Together we made history. European champions, a night none of us will ever forget. Scoring a hat-trick in a European final and lifting a trophy with this club after a 61 year trophy drought will stay with me. Winning the Africa Player of the year award in 2024 as an Atalanta player will forever stay with me. Those moments, those emotions, those nights under the lights, they’re engraved in my heart.

“Thank you to my teammates, the staff, the club. To the fans, your passion, your belief, your energy meant everything. From day one, you stood by me and by this team through every moment. Your passion, your voices, your belief never faded and together we achieved.

“Every cheer, every banner, every away trip meant something. Thank you for making Bergamo feel like home and for giving me memories I’ll carry forever. Grazie di tutto, ciao.”