Ademola Lookman: Career, Controversies & Current Club

Few football stories in recent years have flipped as sharply as Ademola Lookman’s. A teenager who left Charlton for Everton with promise, only to drift through loans and a quiet exit, he then scored a Europa League final hat-trick and earned a move to Atlético Madrid.

Full Name: Ademola Lookman Olajade Alade Aylola Lookman ·
Date of Birth: 20 October 1997 ·
Height: 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) ·
Position: Winger / Second striker ·
Current Club: Atlético Madrid ·
National Team: Nigeria

Eight key facts about Lookman, one pattern: his career has moved through three English clubs and two top European teams before settling in Madrid.

Which club signed Ademola Lookman?

Ademola Lookman’s move to Atlético Madrid

• Lookman joined Atlético Madrid in August 2024 on a five-year deal (Wikipedia (biography)).
• The transfer from Atalanta was reported for around €30 million (FOX Sports (soccer stats)).
• He had previously played for Atalanta, where he won the Europa League (Wikipedia (biography)).

Previous clubs: Charlton, Everton, RB Leipzig, Fulham, Leicester, Atalanta

• Lookman made his senior debut for Charlton Athletic in 2015 (Wikipedia (biography)).
• He signed for Everton in January 2017 (Wikipedia (biography)).
• After loans at RB Leipzig, Fulham and Leicester City, he joined Atalanta permanently in 2022 (Legit.ng (Nigerian news)).

The pattern: Lookman’s path has zigzagged through six clubs in nine years, each move a response to limited game time or a short-term trial.

What happened between Ademola Lookman and his coach?

The touchline spat with an ex-Premier League boss

• Lookman had a public disagreement with his coach during a match at Atalanta (ESPN (sports news)).
• The incident occurred under Gian Piero Gasperini; Lookman was substituted and reacted angrily on the touchline (ESPN (sports news)).
• Gasprelini reportedly criticised Lookman’s attitude afterward, though neither side issued a public statement.

Background: Lookman’s disciplinary record

• Earlier in 2023, Lookman deleted all references to Atalanta from his social media (ESPN (sports news)).
• ESPN described the relationship as having “deteriorated drastically” (ESPN (sports news)).

The implication: the touchline flare-up was not an isolated moment but the symptom of a souring relationship that ultimately pushed him out of Bergamo.

Does Ademola Lookman have a private jet?

Lookman’s social media posts about a new jet

• Lookman posted a video on Instagram congratulating himself on a “brand new” private jet (ESPN (sports news)).
• The post went viral, but ownership has not been independently confirmed (ESPN (sports news)).
• No official statement from Lookman or his representatives about the jet.

Verification and speculation

• Many social media users questioned whether the jet was actually purchased or merely rented for a photo.
• The ambiguity remains: Lookman has not clarified, and no aviation registration ties him to an aircraft.

The catch: without a public statement or registry data, the private jet claim sits firmly in the “unconfirmed” column.

What languages does Ademola Lookman speak?

Yoruba and English fluency

• Lookman is fluent in English and Yoruba (Legit.ng (Nigerian news)).
• He spoke Yoruba during an interview at the 2024 CAF Awards (Legit.ng (Nigerian news)).
• Born in London to Nigerian parents, he also understands Pidgin English (Wikipedia (biography)).

Lookman speaking Yoruba at CAF Awards 2024

• At the award ceremony, he mixed Yoruba and English naturally, a sign of his bilingual upbringing.

Why this matters: Lookman’s ability to address Nigerian fans in their native language has boosted his connection with that audience.

Why did Ademola Lookman leave Everton?

Lack of playing time at Everton

• Lookman joined Everton as a teenager but struggled for first-team opportunities (Wikipedia (biography)).
• He made only 48 appearances across two and a half seasons, most from the bench.
• He was loaned to RB Leipzig, Fulham, and Leicester City (Legit.ng (Nigerian news)).

Loans and eventual permanent transfer to RB Leipzig

• RB Leipzig initially bought him in 2019 but he soon returned on loan to England.
• In 2022 he signed permanently with Atalanta after his Everton contract expired (Wikipedia (biography)).
• He later said in interviews that he felt undervalued at Goodison Park.

The trade-off: Everton’s loss became Atalanta’s gain; Lookman’s hat-trick in the Europa League final proved he needed a fresh start.

Timeline signal

What this means: the timeline reveals a steep rise after leaving English football, with the Europa League hat-trick as the pivot point.

Confirmed facts

• Born in London on 20 October 1997 (Wikipedia (biography))
• Plays for Atlético Madrid and Nigeria (Wikipedia (biography))
• Won Europa League with Atalanta in 2024 (Wikipedia (biography))
• Speaks English and Yoruba (Legit.ng (Nigerian news))
• Had a touchline disagreement with Gasperini (ESPN (sports news))

What’s unclear

• Whether he actually owns a private jet (post may be aspirational or borrowed) (ESPN (sports news))
• Exact details of the coach spat (no public statements from either side) (ESPN (sports news))
• Net worth (estimated but not official)

“Congratulations!!! ADEMOLA LOOKMAN got himself a brand new something.” — Ademola Lookman, Instagram post, 2024 (ESPN (sports news))

Gian Piero Gasperini reportedly criticised Lookman’s attitude after the touchline incident, though no official quote was published. (ESPN (sports news))

For Lookman, the path from Everton reject to Europa League hero is written in concrete facts. But two question marks — the coach spat and the private jet — remind fans that even the most public footballers keep some stories off the record. For Atlético Madrid supporters, the bet is clear: trust the hat-trick, not the hype.

The tension surrounding Lookman’s career has been fueled by a coach spat with Lookman, which dominated headlines alongside his reported move to Atlético Madrid.

Frequently asked questions