Atalanta have upped their asking price for Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman, raising it from €50 million to €60 million after his outstanding display in their 4-0 victory over Juventus last weekend. The 27-year-old’s electrifying performance has sparked interest from several top clubs, including Juventus, as Lookman’s stock continues to rise.
Lookman, who recently claimed the prestigious African Footballer of the Year award, played a key role in Atalanta’s historic thrashing of Juventus at the Allianz Stadium—Juve’s worst home defeat since 1967. He marked the occasion by scoring his 50th Serie A goal, a milestone that has only solidified his reputation as one of the league’s brightest stars.
The forward’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. He hit the post with a deflected shot in the first half, before forcing a save from Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio. In the second half, Lookman’s powerful shot helped create Marten de Roon’s goal, and he capped off his brilliant display by pouncing on a slip from Juve’s Dusan Vlahovic to score Atalanta’s fourth.
This season, Lookman has been in exceptional form, contributing 25 goals and seven assists across all competitions—13 of those goals coming in Serie A and five in the Champions League. His current tally of 18 goals has already surpassed his total from last season, and his performance in the Europa League final, where he scored a historic hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen, helped Atalanta secure their first-ever European trophy. That victory was instrumental in him winning the CAF African Footballer of the Year award in December.
Despite a brief fallout with manager Gian Piero Gasperini following a missed penalty in Atalanta’s Champions League exit last month, Lookman and Gasperini have reconciled. Gasperini even praised Lookman’s growth, suggesting he could wear the captain’s armband before the season ends.
“He became a fantastic player when he improved his perception of the team,” Gasperini said in the post-match press conference against Juventus. “Lookman made Atalanta great, and Atalanta made him great.”
With Atalanta still holding onto slim hopes of challenging for the Scudetto, the club is clearly determined to maximize their financial return should they decide to part ways with Lookman this summer. As his value continues to rise, the competition for his signature will likely heat up, with Juventus remaining one of the leading contenders to sign the in-demand forward.
