With just a few days to go before the winter transfer window closes, Ademola Lookman remains at Atalanta. This situation is somewhat baffling given his status, his recent career path, and his stated desire to move on for many months now.
Since the summer of 2024, his name has been constantly mentioned in transfer discussions, but nothing has ever materialized. One club after another has shown interest (Paris SG, Arsenal, Inter, Atletico, etc.), but their intentions have been declared and then dropped. And as time goes by, the paradox surrounding a player who ticks all the boxes but never becomes a priority grows.
Is his CV too impressive for the current market?
On paper, few attacking players have a track record as solid as Ademola Lookman (28). Three full seasons of high performance with Atalanta, a hat trick in the Europa League final, continental status, and individual recognition that has established him as one of the best African players of his generation. The Nigerian is no longer a gamble, but a sure bet, capable of performing in big games and over the long term.
It is precisely this status that seems to be working against him today. In a market obsessed with projection, resale value, and youth, Lookman arrives with a clear label, an identified value, and a trajectory already written. He is neither a promising prospect to be molded nor a media star, but a player who can perform immediately. A profile that is reassuring on the field, but less exciting for sports management when it comes to spending large sums of money.
Perpetual bad timing
Recent developments have not helped to break down the final barriers. A lackluster first half of the season with Atalanta (3 goals in 18 games), marked by absences, followed by a successful African Cup of Nations on an individual level—with the status of best passer in the competition—but time-consuming in terms of the schedule. Lookman shone for his national team, but was unable to capitalize immediately on the European market at the precise moment when decisions were being made.
Added to this is a more restrictive economic context and a different hierarchy of needs in January. Clubs are looking for targeted, sometimes urgent solutions, rarely high-profile deals. Lookman, under contract until June 2027, finds himself in a cruel limbo, recognized by all but activated by no one. A player too obvious to be a coup, too expensive to be a compromise, and still waiting for someone to finally decide to look at him differently.