Fenerbahçe are closing in on a deal to sign Ademola Lookman from Atalanta, as the Turkish giants push ahead of domestic rivals Galatasaray in the race for the Nigeria international.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, talks have reached an advanced stage following fresh meetings, with the deal now at its final phase for a €40m (about 70 billion Naira) package including add-ons. However, further steps are still required on payment terms and bank guarantees before the transfer can be completed.
Lookman has been unsettled in Bergamo this season, recording three goals and two assists in 19 appearances across all competitions, with speculation over his future continuing to grow. His contract expires at the end of next season, increasing pressure on Atalanta to consider a sale.
Ademola Lookman. Photo Credit: Imago
The 28-year-old joined Atalanta from RB Leipzig in August 2022 on a four-year contract worth a reported €15m, scoring on his debut in a 2–0 Serie A win over Sampdoria.
He quickly became a central figure under former gaffer Gian Piero Gasperini and enjoyed a prolific spell in January 2023, scoring braces in three consecutive matches across Serie A and the Coppa Italia.
His Atalanta career peaked on 22 May 2024, when he scored a historic hat-trick in the Europa League final to secure the club’s first major European trophy with a 3–0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen. The achievement made him the first player since 1969 to score a hat-trick in a one-off men’s European final.
That run of performances earned Lookman a Ballon d’Or nomination in September 2024, the first for a current Atalanta player, following Atalanta’s Europa League triumph and Nigeria’s run to the Africa Cup of Nations final.
Lookman won the 2024 African best player. Photo Credit: CAF
However, tensions later emerged after Atalanta’s Champions League exit to Club Brugge, with Gasperini publicly criticising the forward after a missed penalty in the decisive second leg.
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Lookman has been widely expected to leave Atalanta after three strong seasons in Bergamo, but a move was blocked last summer despite interest from several European clubs. His situation has remained unresolved, with the forward entering the final year of his contract next season.
Ademola Lookman with the Europa League trophy. Photo credit: Getty Images
The Super Eagles attacker has attracted strong interest from Turkey, with both Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray monitoring his availability. Fenerbahçe are now believed to be pushing to take control of the negotiations and finalise personal terms.
Atalanta are understood to prefer a permanent sale and are unwilling to consider loan proposals, as they look to avoid losing the player on a free transfer in the future.
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No official announcement has yet been made by either club.
