Ademola Lookman Joins Atletico Madrid, Pens an Emotional Goodbye to Atalanta

Moments after he completed his transfer formalities from Atalanta to La Liga Club, Atletico Madrid, on Monday, Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman, took to his official X handle, @Alookman_, and penned an emotional goodbye to his former club.

Lookman, 28, completed the transfer on Monday after the two clubs reached an agreement.

The versatile attacking midfielder signed with the former Spanish champions on a contract that would lapse on 30 June 2030.

In his X post, Lookman, who scored a hat-trick when the Italian side beat Bayer Leverkusen to win the Europa League in 2024, expressed profuse gratitude to his teammates, the management and staff of the Club, the Club and the fans “for making Bergamo feel like home and for giving me memories I’ll carry forever.”

“Thank you to my teammates, the staff, the club. To the fans, your passion, your belief, your energy meant everything,” he wrote. “From day one, you stood by me and by this team through every moment. Your passion, your voices, your belief never faded and together we achieved.”

Born on 20 October 1997, in Wandsworth, Greater London, England, to Nigerian parents, prolific Lookman, who is expected to cost Atletico arbout 40 million euros ($47.5 million), has scored three goals in 19 matches across all competitions this season for Atalanta.

He began his career at Charlton Athletic and later joined Everton. After a loan spell at RB Leipzig, he signed for the German side permanently in 2019. However, he was loaned back to Premier League sides, Fulham and Leicester, before moving to Atalanta in 2022.

Below is the full text of Lookman’s emotional goodbye note to his Atalanta soccer family:

“To the Atalanta family , after nearly four years, the time has come for me to say goodbye. 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.

“Together we made history. European champions, a night none of us will ever forget. 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. Winning the Africa Player of the year award in 2024 as an Atalanta player will forever stay with me. Those moments, those emotions, those nights under the lights, they’re engraved in my heart.

“Thank you to my teammates, the staff, the club. To the fans, your passion, your belief, your energy meant everything. From day one, you stood by me and by this team through every moment. Your passion, your voices, your belief never faded and together we achieved.

“Every cheer, every banner, every away trip meant something. Thank you for making Bergamo feel like home and for giving me memories I’ll carry forever.
Grazie di tutto, ciao”