“Better than Chelsea’s current squad” — 2013 AFCON hero urges Chelsea to sign Lookman

By Monsurah Olatunji

Former Nigeria international Sunday Mba has urged Chelsea to target Ademola Lookman in the upcoming summer transfer window, praising the winger’s impressive form and suggesting that he would be a perfect fit for the Premier League giants.

Lookman, who played a key role in Nigeria’s run to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, has been in outstanding form for Atalanta in the 2024/25 season.

With 12 goals and five assists so far, the 27-year-old has proven to be a pivotal player for the Serie A club.

However, Lookman’s future at Atalanta is in doubt, with reports of tension between him and the club’s manager, Gian Piero Gasperini.

The coach publicly criticized Lookman following his missed penalty in a Champions League play-off defeat to Club Brugge, although Lookman quickly responded by scoring a brace in the next match.

Given his strained relationship with Gasperini, Mba, who famously scored the winning goal in Nigeria’s 2013 AFCON victory over Burkina Faso, believes Lookman should seek a move, with Chelsea being a top potential destination.

Speaking to Africafoot, Mba praised Lookman’s talent and suitability for Chelsea’s current system under manager Enzo Maresca, saying, “With all due respect, Ademola Lookman is better than any other Chelsea player, with the possible exception of Cole Palmer.”

Mba further emphasized, “Lookman fits perfectly into this team and will be an instant hit. Chelsea would also improve massively in the final third, but with his contract, it wouldn’t cost them much.”

Despite Lookman’s previous links to a Premier League return, it remains to be seen if Chelsea will pursue the Nigerian forward in the upcoming transfer window, though Mba’s endorsement only adds to the growing calls for Lookman to make the move.

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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