Ademola Lookman has officially handed in a transfer request to Atalanta, ending weeks of speculation about his future with the Serie A club.
In a statement released via his social media platforms and confirmed by renowned transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, the Nigerian forward expressed disappointment over what he described as broken promises and unfair treatment by the club’s hierarchy.
“I hope to work together with the club to find an amicable solution for all parties as soon as possible.
Lookman, 26, joined Atalanta in 2022 and quickly established himself as key figure in Gian Piero Gasperini’s side.
His standout moment came last season when he played a starring role in Atalanta’s historic UEFA Europa League triumph.
Reflecting on that achievement, Lookman described the final in Dublin as “one of the proudest moments of my career.”
“I came here with the hope of helping this special club grow and together, we’ve created memories that will stay with me forever,” he said.
“Atalanta, and especially its supporters, have become a part of me. This place has felt like home from the moment I arrived.”
“Despite now receiving an offer in alignment to what I believe had been discussed, sadly the club are blocking the opportunity for reasons I do not understand.”
“After many months of broken promises and what I feel has been poor treatment towards me as both a human being and as a professional footballer, sadly I feel I have no choice but to speak out,” he wrote.
“I have always tried to put the club, the fans and the team first and hoped it would not get to this. But I unfortunately feel there is now little choice.”
“To the fans – the heartbeat of this club – I want to say this: I’m truly sorry it’s come to this. I hope you can understand this incredibly difficult situation. It’s simply about standing up for what I believe is fair and right,” Lookman said.