Ademola Lookman: Premier League’s most wanted player makes SHOCK transfer U-turn

Robin Bairner

• 10 Sept 2025 10:40 BST
• 4 min read

News

Ademola Lookman was one of the big losers of the transfer window as the Nigeria international striker failed to land the move that he craved over the summer, resulting in heightened tensions with Atalanta.

Lookman was linked to a string of major clubs over the course of the window. Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur were among those tracking the 27-year-old. Indeed, at one point, seven Premier League clubs were reportedly interested in signing the forward, with Chelsea and Aston Villa among this number.

Despite going on a two-week strike to try to force Atalanta’s hand, he remained at the Serie A side, where he has been training alone since the middle of August. All that is about to change, though.

Current ETV

Ademola Lookman 

F (C)

Atalanta

Ademola Lookman 

F (C)

Atalanta

€47.8M

ETV Range

€43M - €52.6M

View full profile

Atalanta correspondent Alessandro Giovanni Pagliarini reports via X: “Lookman will return to Zingonia between tomorrow and Friday after the international break. Then he will resume training with the group ahead of the match against Lecce, although it's not certain he will be immediately included in the Atalanta squad.”

The London-born star should have few fitness issues given that he started both of Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying matches over the last week. After featuring for 75 minutes in the 1-0 win over Rwanda, he played the duration of the 1-1 draw with South Africa – a result that puts real doubt in the Super Eagles’ ability to qualify for the competition.

Lookman set for January transfer drama

Lookman’s return to Atalanta is liable to be a temporary truce. His relationship with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has been frayed for months.

“Ademola Lookman is one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen,” the Italian boss fumed after the striker missed a spot kick in a Champions League clash with Club Brugge in February.

“He wanted to take the penalty after scoring a goal, he took the ball despite Mateo Retegui and Charles De Keteleare available to take it… I didn’t like what Lookman did.”

Lookman released a lengthy Instagram post criticising Gasperini and has since struggled to regain his top level, hence his push to leave Atalanta.

Interest in him in January is likely to be significant, with the Premier League remaining a likely destination for the winger. Exactly which club he could move to is likely to be dependent on a string of variables, including injuries and form.

Lookman has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €47.8 million, meaning Atalanta stand to make a huge profit on him after he arrived in 2019 for €18m from RB Leipzig.

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