Ademola Lookman is a Nigerian international footballer who has built a remarkable career across England, Germany, Italy and Spain. Known for his pace, dribbling, attacking movement and ability to play in different positions, Lookman has developed from a promising young player at Charlton Athletic into an established forward competing at one of Europe’s biggest clubs, Atlético Madrid.
Born in London to Nigerian parents, Lookman initially represented England at youth level before choosing to play senior international football for Nigeria. His career has included spells with Charlton Athletic, Everton, RB Leipzig, Fulham, Leicester City and Atalanta before his move to Atlético Madrid in 2026.
One of the defining moments of his career came during the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League final. Playing for Atalanta, Lookman scored all three goals in the club’s 3–0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen. The performance helped establish him as one of the most recognised Nigerian players in European football. Atlético Madrid later described him as a versatile attacker capable of playing as a winger or second striker.
Ademola Lookman Age and Date of Birth
Ademola Lookman was born on 20 October 1997 in Wandsworth, London, England. As of September 2026, he is 28 years old.
His full name is Ademola Olajade Alade Aylola Lookman. Atlético Madrid lists his nationality as Nigerian, while his birthplace and early football development are connected to England. He stands at approximately 1.74 metres (5 feet 9 inches) tall and is predominantly right-footed.
Lookman’s background is an important part of his identity as a footballer. Although he was born and raised in England, he has Nigerian roots through his family and eventually made the decision to represent Nigeria at senior international level.
Ademola Lookman Family and Parents
Lookman was born to Nigerian parents in London. His Nigerian heritage has played an important role in his football journey, particularly since he changed his international allegiance from England’s youth teams to the Nigerian senior national team. Atalanta confirmed his Nigerian roots when announcing his signing in 2022.
Information about Lookman’s private family life is relatively limited. Unlike some footballers who regularly share details about their parents, siblings and relationships online, Lookman generally keeps his personal life away from the public spotlight.
This is why readers should be careful with online claims about his parents, siblings, wife or romantic relationships unless those details have been confirmed by Lookman himself or a reliable source.
What is well established is that his family background is Nigerian and that his upbringing in London helped shape the player he became. His early education also shows that football was not his only focus. He attended St Thomas the Apostle College in Nunhead, where he reportedly achieved strong GCSE results.
Ademola Lookman’s Early Football Career
Lookman’s professional football journey began with Charlton Athletic. He joined the club’s youth system before progressing into the senior team.
He made his senior debut for Charlton in November 2015, shortly after turning 18. His performances quickly attracted attention because of his direct style of play, speed and ability to attack defenders.
During his time with Charlton, Lookman made 45 senior appearances and scored 10 goals before earning a major move to the Premier League.
His breakthrough was significant because it demonstrated that he could compete at a higher level despite being relatively young. It also attracted interest from several clubs, eventually leading to a move to Everton.
Ademola Lookman at Everton
In January 2017, Lookman joined Everton from Charlton Athletic.
His Premier League debut could hardly have been more memorable. He came off the bench against Manchester City and scored in Everton’s 4–0 victory. Atalanta’s official announcement later highlighted that goal as an early milestone in his professional career.
Lookman showed flashes of his ability during his time at Everton, particularly with his pace and willingness to take on defenders. However, regular first-team opportunities were not always easy to secure.
His development subsequently took him outside England, where he began a series of moves and loan spells that would eventually help him find greater consistency.
RB Leipzig, Fulham and Leicester City
In January 2018, Lookman joined RB Leipzig on loan from Everton. His start in Germany was impressive, as he scored on his debut against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
He finished that loan spell with five goals and four assists in 11 appearances, according to Atalanta’s account of his career. His performances convinced Leipzig to sign him permanently in 2019.
Lookman later returned to England on loan, first joining Fulham and subsequently Leicester City.
His Leicester spell was particularly useful for his development because he received regular opportunities in attack. During the 2021/22 campaign, he scored important goals and continued to develop his ability to operate from wide areas as well as in more central attacking positions.
These different experiences were important because Lookman was learning to adapt to different managers, leagues and tactical systems.
Ademola Lookman at Atalanta
The biggest transformation in Lookman’s career came after he joined Atalanta in 2022.
Atalanta signed him permanently from RB Leipzig in August 2022. The Italian club described him as a fast and skilful winger capable of beating defenders, attacking space and performing different roles in the attack.
Italy proved to be an important environment for Lookman. He became a key attacking player and developed a reputation for producing goals and assists.
His greatest Atalanta moment arrived in the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen.
Lookman scored three goals as Atalanta won 3–0. The hat-trick made him the standout player of the final and helped Atalanta win the first European trophy in the club’s history. Atlético Madrid later confirmed that Lookman scored all three goals in the final.
His performances at Atalanta also contributed to his growing reputation in Africa and Europe. He was subsequently recognised as African Footballer of the Year, becoming one of the notable Nigerian players to receive the prestigious individual award.
Ademola Lookman at Atlético Madrid
In 2026, Lookman took another major step in his career by joining Atlético Madrid.
Atlético Madrid confirmed that the club reached an agreement with Atalanta for Lookman and that he signed a contract running until 30 June 2030. The Spanish club described him as a dynamic and versatile attacker who can play as a winger on either side or as a second striker.
The move represents another stage in Lookman’s development. Atlético Madrid is known for its demanding style of football and high expectations, giving Lookman an opportunity to compete regularly at the highest level of European club football.
By 2026, his career had taken him through several major football environments: England’s Premier League, Germany’s Bundesliga, Italy’s Serie A and Spain’s La Liga.
Ademola Lookman and the Nigeria National Team
Although Lookman represented England at youth level, including the Under-20 side that won the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, he later chose Nigeria for senior international football.
He made his Nigeria senior debut in March 2022 during the World Cup qualifying campaign against Ghana.
Since then, he has become an important member of the Super Eagles.
Lookman was part of Nigeria’s squad at the Africa Cup of Nations and has continued to contribute goals and attacking creativity for the national team. Atlético Madrid’s official profile recorded 41 appearances and 11 goals for Nigeria at the time of his transfer to the Spanish club, while later records show his international totals have continued to change.
His decision to represent Nigeria has made him especially popular among Nigerian football supporters. It also added another important dimension to his career, allowing him to compete in major African and international tournaments.
Ademola Lookman’s Playing Style
Lookman is best known as an attacking player who can operate from the wings or play closer to the centre.
His major strengths include:
- Speed: He can accelerate quickly and attack space behind defenders.
- Dribbling: Lookman is comfortable taking on defenders in one-on-one situations.
- Finishing: His Europa League final hat-trick demonstrated his ability to convert important chances.
- Versatility: He can play on either wing or as a second striker.
- Movement: His ability to move between wide and central positions makes him difficult to mark.
- Attacking directness: Rather than always playing sideways, he often looks for opportunities to move the ball toward goal.
Atlético Madrid’s official profile describes him as a versatile, right-footed and dynamic player who can operate on both wings and use his pace and dribbling ability effectively.
Ademola Lookman Salary
One of the most searched questions about the Nigerian forward is how much he earns.
Salary information for footballers can be difficult to verify because clubs do not always publicly disclose the complete financial terms of player contracts. Figures published by salary databases should therefore be treated as estimates rather than guaranteed official earnings.
Capology currently estimates Lookman’s gross fixed salary at Atlético Madrid for the 2026/27 season at approximately €12.5 million per year, or about €240,385 per week, excluding bonuses. The same source states that the figures are estimates and may not represent official club-confirmed numbers.
Another salary-tracking source gives a similar annual figure and reports that his Atlético Madrid contract runs until 2030, while noting the possibility of performance-related bonuses.
For this reason, it is more accurate to describe Lookman’s salary as an estimated figure rather than presenting an unverified amount as fact.
Ademola Lookman Net Worth
Ademola Lookman’s exact net worth is not publicly confirmed.
This is an important distinction because websites often publish specific net-worth figures without explaining how those numbers were calculated. A footballer’s wealth can include wages, bonuses, sponsorships, investments, appearance fees and other assets, while taxes and personal expenses can significantly affect actual wealth.
Lookman’s long professional career and move to Atlético Madrid have undoubtedly increased his earning potential. However, there is no publicly audited figure that can establish his exact personal net worth as of 2026.
Therefore, readers should be cautious about websites claiming that Lookman is worth a precise amount. A more responsible approach is to say that his net worth is estimated by various online sources but has not been officially disclosed or independently verified.
His growing salary, international profile and success at Atalanta have nevertheless placed him among Nigeria’s prominent football earners.
Ademola Lookman Achievements
Lookman’s career already includes several important achievements.
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Lookman represented England at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup. England won the tournament, giving him his first major international title.
UEFA Europa League
His biggest club achievement came with Atalanta in the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League.
Atalanta defeated Bayer Leverkusen 3–0 in the final, with Lookman scoring a hat-trick. The victory gave Atalanta its first major European trophy.
African Footballer of the Year
Lookman’s outstanding performances for Atalanta and Nigeria also helped him earn recognition as African Footballer of the Year.
The award further established him as one of the leading African players of his generation.
Ademola Lookman Career Timeline
A simple look at his professional journey shows how much his career has developed:
2015: Makes senior debut for Charlton Athletic.
2017: Moves to Everton and scores on his Premier League debut.
2018: Joins RB Leipzig on loan.
2019: Returns to Leipzig on a permanent transfer.
2020: Joins Fulham on loan.
2021: Joins Leicester City on loan.
2022: Signs permanently for Atalanta and makes his senior Nigeria debut.
2024: Scores a historic hat-trick in the Europa League final.
2026: Joins Atlético Madrid on a contract running until 2030.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ademola Lookman
How old is Ademola Lookman?
Ademola Lookman was born on 20 October 1997. He is 28 years old as of September 2026.
Where was Ademola Lookman born?
He was born in Wandsworth, London, England.
What nationality is Ademola Lookman?
Lookman represents Nigeria at senior international level and has Nigerian family roots. He was born in England and previously represented England at youth level.
Which club does Ademola Lookman play for?
As of 2026, Lookman plays for Atlético Madrid in Spain. His contract with the club runs until 30 June 2030.
What position does Ademola Lookman play?
He is an attacking player who can operate as a winger or second striker. Atlético Madrid lists him as a forward and highlights his ability to play on both wings.
What is Ademola Lookman’s salary?
His exact salary has not been officially disclosed in full. Public salary databases estimate his Atlético Madrid gross fixed salary at around €12.5 million per year for the 2026/27 season, excluding bonuses.
What is Ademola Lookman’s net worth?
His exact net worth is not publicly confirmed. Online estimates vary, so any specific figure should be treated cautiously unless supported by reliable financial evidence.
Why is Ademola Lookman famous?
Lookman is known for his football career in Europe, his performances for Nigeria and especially his historic three-goal performance for Atalanta in the 2024 UEFA Europa League final.