Ademola Lookman - biography, stats, age, weight, height

Biography of Ademola Lookman

In 2014, Lookman joined the Charlton Athletic academy after moving from the London youth club Waterloo. His rapid progress within the club’s system led to his debut for the first team in November 2015 in the Championship. In December, he scored his first professional goal and quickly established himself in the senior squad.

Move to Everton and the German stage

In January 2017, Lookman signed with Everton (the deal was estimated at around £7.5-11 million). He made a bright debut, scoring in a match against Manchester City. However, it was difficult for him to secure a regular starting place, and he was loaned to RB Leipzig, where he scored the winning goal in his very first match. The German club later signed him on a permanent contract.

Later, Lookman also played on loan for Fulham and Leicester City, where he continued gaining experience in the English Premier League.

Breakthrough at Atalanta

In August 2022, Lookman transferred to the Italian club Atalanta for around €15 million. This period became the key stage of his career. In the 2023/24 season he became the hero of the Europa League final, scoring a hat-trick against Bayer (3:0). It was the first hat-trick in a single-match European final since 1969. Thanks to his outstanding season, he was named African Footballer of the Year, becoming the seventh Nigerian to receive this award.

In the following season he continued his impressive scoring form, winning domestic trophies with the club and establishing himself as one of the most exciting attacking players in Serie A.

Transfer to Atletico Madrid

On February 1, 2026, Lookman signed a contract with Atlético Madrid for approximately £30.3 million. In his debut match in the Copa del Rey he scored a goal in a 5:0 victory over Real Betis. This goal became the 100th of his professional career.

International career

Lookman progressed through England’s youth national teams (U19, U20, U21) before joining the Nigeria national team. With England he won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2017.

In 2022, FIFA approved his switch of sporting nationality, and he made his debut for Nigeria. At the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations he became one of the team’s leaders, scoring in the knockout stage and helping the national team reach the final. In 2025 he helped Nigeria secure third place in the tournament.

Today, Lookman is one of Nigeria’s key attacking players and one of the most versatile forwards of his generation, capable of playing on the wing, as a second striker, or closer to the center of the attack.

Personal life of Ademola Lookman

Ademola Lookman was born in London to Nigerian parents. Although he grew up in England, his connection with Nigerian roots has always played an important role in his life and worldview. This later influenced his decision to switch sporting nationality and represent Nigeria.

From a young age, Lookman paid great attention to education. He studied at St Thomas the Apostle College in Nunhead and achieved excellent academic results, receiving high grades in his GCSE exams. Teachers and classmates noted his discipline and serious attitude toward studies - qualities that later appeared in his professional career as well.

Lookman is known as a private and reserved person. Unlike many footballers of his generation, he rarely shares details of his personal life on social media, preferring to focus on his football career. He has repeatedly emphasized the importance of family in his life, especially highlighting the role of his mother, whom he called a “superwoman” and his main source of support.

In 2024, media reports mentioned his relationship with Portuguese actress Inês Aguiar, although the footballer himself rarely comments publicly on his private life.

Lookman is also actively involved in the Nigerian diaspora and the national team environment. He takes pride in his heritage and emphasizes that his decision to change sporting nationality was a conscious step driven by personal beliefs and a desire to represent his family’s historical homeland.

Interesting facts about Ademola Lookman

• Hero of the 2024 Europa League final. Lookman made history by scoring a hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer. He became the first player since 1969 to score three goals in a single-match European final.
• African Footballer of the Year. After a triumphant season with Atalanta and strong performances for the Nigeria national team, he was named African Footballer of the Year, becoming the seventh Nigerian to win the award.
• U-20 World Cup winner. In 2017 he won the FIFA U-20 World Cup with England, scoring three goals during the tournament. It was England’s first global football title since the 1966 World Cup.
• Turned down Nigeria three times - but eventually chose it. Before officially switching sporting nationality, he declined several invitations from the Nigerian Football Federation before finally deciding to represent the Super Eagles in 2022.
• 100th goal in Atletico debut. In his first match for the Madrid club he not only scored but also reached the milestone of 100 career goals.
• Rare achievement in the Netherlands. While on loan at Willem II he became the first foreign player in Eredivisie history to score 12 goals in his first 12 league matches.
• A player who scores in big matches. In 2023 he scored the winning goal against Liverpool while playing for Leicester, and in Italy he regularly scored in key Serie A and European competition matches.
• Penalty controversy and coach criticism. After missing a penalty in the Champions League, coach Gian Piero Gasperini publicly criticized him, calling him “one of the worst penalty takers”. Despite this, Lookman quickly regained form and continued his scoring performances.
• Order of the Niger. After a successful Africa Cup of Nations campaign, he and his national teammates were awarded the national Order of the Niger.
• Academic success. Before his professional breakthrough he showed strong academic results, which is relatively rare among footballers who enter professional sport at an early age.

Ademola Lookman statistics

As of February 2, 2026

Total career

International statistics (Nigeria)

As of November 14, 2024

Matches for the national team (early statistics)

• Matches: 3
• Goals: 0
• Wins: 1
• Draws: 2
• Losses: 0

Scandals involving Ademola Lookman

Ademola Lookman is generally not a footballer who frequently finds himself at the center of major scandals, although several notable episodes in his career have been discussed in the media.

One of the most famous incidents occurred on November 7, 2020, when he was playing for Fulham on loan from RB Leipzig. In a match against West Ham, in the final minutes, Lookman attempted a “Panenka” penalty but struck the ball too softly and straight into the hands of goalkeeper Łukasz Fabiański. Fulham lost the match 0:1, and the episode caused a wave of criticism from fans and experts.

Head coach Scott Parker called the player’s decision “inappropriate for such a situation,” although he later supported him. Lookman publicly apologized to the team and the fans on social media.

Otherwise, there have been almost no serious disciplinary or off-field scandals in his career.