Soccer
Ademola Olajide Lookman Nigeria looks on during the Africa Cup Of Nations match between Mozambique and Nigeria. Photo by Thor Wegner/DeFodi/IMAGO
Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman recently scored 100 career goals in action for Atletico Madrid against Real Betis, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Nigerian international’s journey to 100 started as a raw teenager in English football, then as a proven match-winner in Italy, and now in Spain. Lookman reached the milestone 11 years after making his professional debut.
Soccer Ademola Lookman: Learning the Trade in England
Lookman began his professional career at Charlton Athletic, where he scored 12 goals in 49 appearances for the Addicks. He earned a move to the Premier League with Everton.
At Goodison Park, goals were harder to come by, as he managed four in 48 games. Loan spells followed at RB Leipzig and Fulham, which exposed him to different styles of football.
He netted five goals in Germany and added four more with Fulham in England to gradually refine his game as a wide forward.
In 42 appearances at Leicester, he scored eight goals and became a more reliable attacking option, contributing in both domestic and European competitions.
Soccer The Atalanta Explosion
Lookman’s career truly transformed at Atalanta. Under Gian Piero Gasperini, he flourished, and the Nigerian forward produced the most prolific spell of his career in Bergamo, scoring 55 goals in 137 appearances.
It was in Italy that Lookman evolved from a talented winger into a decisive forward, where he delivered match-winning goals in Serie A and on the European stage.
More than half of his total club goals came during this period, which shows how crucial Atalanta were to his 100-goal mark.
Soccer Nigeria and the Milestone in Atletico Madrid
Alongside his club progress, Lookman made a major impact with Nigeria after switching international allegiance from England. He has scored 11 goals for the Super Eagles and added an important international dimension to his career tally.
The landmark moment arrived on his debut for Atlético Madrid, when he found the net to bring his total to 100 career goals across club and country.
In all, the milestone was reached after 376 appearances, spread across Charlton Athletic, Everton, RB Leipzig, Fulham, Leicester City, Atalanta and Atlético Madrid, as well as the Nigerian national team.
Ayomide Oguntimehin
Ayomide Oguntimehin is a CAF-accredited sports journalist and Editor at Soccernet.ng. He has interviewed Super Eagles stars like William Troost-Ekong, Taiwo Awoniyi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, and Ademola Lookman, and is known for breaking major transfer stories.
Ayomide has worked with Sports Brief, Naija News and served as Social Lead Editor at Legit.ng. He has also featured on Goal, TVC News, Sports Mole, and Milan News24. He holds a Master’s degree and is currently pursuing a PhD. Follow Ayomide on X (formerly Twitter): @ayo_oguntimehin
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