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The Super Eagles forward’s inspiring story of how he went from playing for an amateur side to being one of the most sought-after forwards in world football.
From his humble beginnings playing for a Sunday League team in Waterloo, London, to becoming a Ballon d'Or nominee, Lookman's journey is one of sheer talent mixed with unwavering determination and a touch of destiny.
Created on the local pitches
Born in Wandsworth, Greater London, England, to Nigerian parents, Lookman's early footballing days were far removed from the glamorous world of professional football.
He had to start his formative years on local pitches, playing for Waterloo FC, a Sunday League team in London Borough of Lambeth, from the tender age of 10. However, his natural ability was evident from a young age, and five years later, he caught the attention of scouts from professional clubs.
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In 2014, Lookman joined the academy of Charlton Athletic, an academy that was instrumental in developing his raw talent into a polished skillset.
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He quickly rose through the ranks and made his first-team debut in 2015. His performances for Charlton attracted interest from Premier League clubs, and in January 2017, he signed for Everton.
The beginning of the nomadic years
Lookman's time at Everton was a mixed bag. Despite showing glimpses of his potential by scoring a goal on his debut, he struggled to establish himself as a regular starter and eventually left on loan in January 2018.
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While there were other options, Lookman took the bold and unusual step of leaving England for a foreign league by choosing RB Leipzig as his loan destination.
The forward immediately impressed at Leipzig, scoring the winning goal in his first game against Borussia Mönchengladbach after coming on as a late substitute.
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The German club were impressed and decided to sign the forward on a five-year deal in 2019, but after just over a year, he was sent on loan and this time back to England with Fulham, where he spent a season.
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He was sent on another loan to Leicester City, where he spent another year before eventually finding a permanent home with Atalanta in Serie A.
A gamble that paid off
Atalanta decided to sign Lookman in 2022 on a four-year contract for a reported fee of €15 million, and that was where he truly found his feet.
Lookman had a memorable debut for Atalanta, scoring in a 2-0 victory over Sampdoria. In January 2023, he began to show glimpses of a player about to blow up, scoring braces in three consecutive matches against Salernitana, Spezia, and Juventus, while he also had the best goalscoring year of his career.
It was also in the same year that he finally completed his switch to represent Nigeria.
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The year that Lookman arrived
However, the 2023–24 season was the career-defining one for Lookman. He played a key role in Atalanta's success, helping them to win the Europa League, the first trophy in the club’s history.
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It was the same year he played his first Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria and helped the team reach the final, scoring three goals through the tournament.
Lookman’s talent was never in doubt
Lookman was raised in South London, and his rise to the pinnacle of world football was met with elation and testimony about his talent from some of his past tutors.
Oliver Reynolds, one of Looman’s coaches at his amateur side, Waterloo, always knew Lookman would rise in the world.
"I woke up this morning and just said 'pinch me because I'm pretty sure that was a dream' - we loved every minute of it, he said after Lookman’s Europa League final heroics.
"But man, it was written in the stars for Ademola Lookman," he added.
"He was so exciting to watch. That second and third goal - I've seen him do that here, so I'm not surprised,”Charlton Academy’s director Steve Avory said with much enthusiasm.
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