Super Eagles winger, Ademola Lookman has seen a significant rise in his market value, now estimated at €55 million.
The increase of €15 million places Ademola Lookman ahead of Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface, who stands at €45 million, making Lookman Nigeria’s second most valuable player, just behind Victor Osimhen at €75 million.
Winning the 2024 CAF Player of the Year award is a testament to Lookman’s outstanding performance, as he triumphed over notable contenders, including Simon Adingra from Ivory Coast, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, and Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy. Additionally, Lookman was ranked 14th in the 2024 Ballon d’Or standings.
The 27-year-old winger’s rise over the past two seasons has firmly established him among Nigeria’s top football talents. At the end of 2023, he was valued at €30 million, but a remarkable year saw an impressive €25 million increase in his market value, reflecting an 83.33% growth.
By June 2024, after delivering a standout performance in the UEFA Europa League final—scoring a hat-trick in Atalanta’s 3-0 victory over Leverkusen to clinch the club’s first European title—his valuation rose to €40 million.
Jatin Dietl, Transfermarkt’s Italy Area Manager, noted, “Lookman capped off his impressive 2024 with the African Ballon d’Or, and rightly so. He has been in exceptional form, playing a pivotal role in Atalanta’s success and leading the club to its first international title.”
Before reaching this pinnacle, Lookman attracted interest from major European clubs such as PSG, Arsenal, and Liverpool, who expressed a desire to sign him last summer. However, retaining his talents may pose a challenge for Atalanta as the season progresses.
Despite the growing interest, Atalanta President Antonio Percassi has emphasized the club’s intention to keep Lookman during the January transfer window, stating, “Our plan is not to change anything in the January window,” regarding the forward’s future.