Looking at Lookman. Why Atletico's newest star could be the best signing of the winter window

The long road to Bergamo 

It's easy to forget that Lookman is a product of English football, such has been his ascent into European football and international exploits with Nigeria.

But the 28-year-old was born in London and made his league debut in the Championship with the Addicks in 2018, aged just 18, after a rapid rise through the club's academy. 

His performances were quickly noted and they persuaded Premier League Everton to part with £7million for the teenager, just two years after his debut, but it began a period for Lookman where he never managed to settle.

Opportunities at Goodison Park were limited and therefore, a loan move to RB Leipzig was pushed through, where he impressed and scored on his debut for the Germans. 

A permanent move to the Bundesliga followed, but once again, he only showed his promise in flashes, and it was actually back in the Premier League that he would enjoy his most fruitful periods yet, this time at Fulham and then Leicester.

During two season-long stints, the forward played on a consistent basis, scoring 12 top-flight goals and giving a timely reminder of the talent he had, if it could just be harnessed regularly. 

Yet, it would be outside of his home country that he'd fulfil that promise and make history in the process. 

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Atalanta's ace 

Seeking a more permanent home, Lookman's next move took him to Serie A and Atalanta, who had recently established themselves as a European contender in Italy's top flight. 

He made an instant impact, scoring on his debut against Sampdoria, and would go on to net a career-high of 13 goals for the Bergamo side, and become a key component in Gian Piero Gasperini's team. 

Then, in his second season at the club, he etched his name into Atalanta folklore. Not only with another double-figure tally in goals, but by his performance in the 2024 Europa League final. 

Putting on a one-man show against Xabi Alonso's underfeated Bayer Leverkusen, by netting a hat-trick in a 3-0 win to land the Italian side's first-ever European trophy. 

His displays that season saw him named as the African Footballer of the Year, and a Ballon d'Or nominee, and he carried that form into the following campaign, where his 15 goals saw him included in the Serie A team of the season. 

However, following Gasperini's departure to Roma last summer, Lookman failed to get going this season. Starting the season on the sidelines with a calf issue, it took time get back in the squad, and his first half of the campaign was marred by a touchline bust-up with Ivan Juric during a Champions League clash with Marseille. 

Juric eventually lost his job and was replaced by Raffaelle Palladino, but following the African Nations Cup - where he was included in the team of the tournament - Lookman was the subject of a surprise bid from Atletico Madrid and decided a fresh challenge was needed, moving to La Liga in a £30million deal. 

All in at Atletico 

His impact in Spain has been immediate, and just weeks into the move to the Metropolitano, he's already being hailed as one of the signings of the window. 

It began with a goal on his debut - the 100th of his career - and has since racked up four goals and two assists in his first ten games for the club. One of which came in Atletico's Champions League first leg win over Brugge. 

His low-key arrival in La Liga has been turned up a notch, and the 28-year-old has added an impetus to Diego Simeone's attack that has given it a new and threatening dimension. 

Something that should be obvious for a player who's made history in a European final and been voted the best player on his continent, but those accolades haven't pushed Lookman into the elite field that his achievements certainly warrant. 

Perhaps because it was achieved at an 'unfashionable' club like Atalanta or maybe there's still a need for more of consistant display of playing at the elite level needed from the player. 

But, given the start he's made in Madrid, and the platform he now has at his disposal, Lookman has every chance of finally being talked about in the same breath as some of the game's best and delivering a profitable second half of the season for his new club. 

@Atleti

 

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