Ademola Lookman Pushes for Transfer Amid Atalanta Fallout: Broken Promises, €50M Valuation, and Inter Milan Tensions

By Busterblog.com | August 3, 2025

Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman has officially submitted a transfer request to leave Atalanta, citing broken promises and deteriorating trust with the club's management—despite his heroic contributions to their historic 2024 UEFA Europa League victory.

Sources close to the player reveal that Lookman, who joined Atalanta in 2022 for €15 million, feels betrayed by the club's failure to honor verbal agreements, including contract improvements, marketing support, and promises of a swift exit if top European clubs came calling.

His frustration boiled over after Atalanta rejected multiple offers from Inter Milan, including a final bid worth between €42-45 million, despite the player’s openness to the move.

Atalanta, however, remain firm on a €50 million valuation, a price tag now fueled by Lookman’s rising stock, including being crowned African Footballer of the Year in 2024—an accolade that solidified his status as one of the continent’s top exports. His hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, the first in a one-legged final since 1969, according to UEFA archives, not only secured Atalanta's first-ever European title but placed Lookman in the annals of football history.

Yet, the relationship has soured. Lookman has been notably absent from recent training sessions and media duties, signaling a strategic standoff. Reports from Pulse Sports suggest the winger is now pushing for a swift, amicable resolution before the transfer window closes, aiming to avoid a public feud that could tarnish his legacy at the Bergamo-based club.

Experts warn of the potential consequences. A 2023 report published in the Journal of Sports Sciences found that players embroiled in unresolved transfer disputes often experience a 15% dip in on-pitch performance due to psychological stress and uncertainty. Such a decline could hurt both Lookman and Atalanta if the impasse drags into the new season.

The move is also shaping up as a test of Atalanta’s long-term vision. While they seek to hold firm on valuation, Inter Milan remain keen, with Simone Inzaghi reportedly viewing Lookman as the missing link in their revamped attack following Edin Džeko’s departure.

With time ticking and pressure mounting, all eyes are now on Atalanta’s boardroom, where a decision must be made: cash in on their star at peak value, or risk internal turmoil and a drop in dressing-room morale.

Whether this ends in celebration or separation, one thing is clear—Ademola Lookman is no longer silent, and the ball is now squarely in Atalanta’s court.