Atalanta have confirmed the signing of Ademola Lookman from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.
Although the Serie A side did not reveal contract details in terms of duration and fee, reports have it that the Nigeria international penned a four-year contract with the Black and Blues for a fee in the region of €15m.
The winger joined Leipzig from Everton in 2019, however, his inability to get regular game time with the German top-flight side saw him loaned to Fulham and then Leicester City.
Prior to the loan spell, Lookman featured in 24 competitive games for the Red Bulls, getting on the scoresheet five times and setting up four goals.
“Atalanta BC are delighted to announce the signing of the player Ademola Lookman from RB Leipzig on a permanent basis,” a statement from the club read.
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“Born in Wandsworth on the 20th of October in 1997, he is a fast and skillful winger with the ability to drift past defenders, attack the depth and can cover different positions in the attack, he can play different positions offensively.”
Last season, Lookman represented the Foxes. At the King Power Stadium, he scored eight goals and provided eight assists in 42 appearances combined in the Premier League, the FA Cup, English League Cup and Uefa Europa League.
With this, the former England youth international becomes the third African in Gian Piero Gasperini’s squad. Others are Cote d’Ivoire’s Jeremie Boga and Guinea’s Moustapha Cisse.
Lookman could make his debut in Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Valencia. Atalanta begin their quest for a first Serie A title against Sampdoria on August 13 at the Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris.
On the international scene, he represented England at U20 level – scoring a brace against Costa Rica in the Round of 16 and a goal in the semi-final versus Italy – as the Europeans won the 2017 U20 World Cup in South Korea.
However, he pledged his allegiance to Nigeria in 2022. He made his Super Eagles debut on 25 March, as the three-time African champions played out a 0-0 with Ghana in a 2022 Fifa World Cup qualification play-off fixture.
