Ademola Lookman Bids Emotional Farewell to Atalanta After Historic Spell

Ademola Lookman has penned an emotional goodbye message to Atalanta, bringing the curtain down on a remarkable near four-year journey in Bergamo that will live long in the club’s history.

In a heartfelt statement addressed to the “Atalanta family,” the Nigerian forward reflected on the warmth he received upon arrival and the unforgettable highs achieved during his time at the club.

“From the moment I arrived in Bergamo, you welcomed me like one of your own and pushed me to be the best version of myself,” Lookman wrote. “Together we made history.”

Central to those memories was Atalanta’s European triumph, a landmark achievement that ended the club’s 61-year wait for silverware. Lookman’s iconic hat-trick in the European final and lifting the trophy with La Dea stand out as defining moments of his career.

“Scoring a hat-trick in a European final and lifting a trophy with this club after a 61-year trophy drought will stay with me,” he said. “Those moments, those emotions, those nights under the lights, they’re engraved in my heart.”

Lookman also highlighted the personal significance of winning the African Footballer of the Year award in 2024 while still an Atalanta player, describing it as an honour he will “forever” cherish.

He reserved special praise for the fans, whose passion and loyalty, he said, made Bergamo feel like home.

“Your passion, your voices, your belief never faded — and together we achieved,” Lookman added. “Every cheer, every banner, every away trip meant something.”

As he prepares for the next chapter of his career, Lookman leaves Atalanta as a modern club legend, having combined individual brilliance with collective success and etched his name permanently into the history of La Dea.

Lookman completed his move to Spanish LaLiga side, Atletico Madrid.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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