Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has reached an agreement with Atalanta that will allow him to stay with the club for Serie A clash with Cagliari on 13 December before travelling for Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 camp, Footynaija.com reports.
The deal comes as Lookman rediscovers his form under new manager Raffaele Palladino. Earlier in the campaign, the former African Player of the Year struggled for influence during a tense spell under former coach Ivan Juric, who sidelined him after a series of issues with both the club and the Croatian boss.
Since Palladino took charge, Lookman has found the net in both Serie A and the Champions League, scoring recently against Fiorentina and making a strong impact against Eintracht Frankfurt.
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According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, reported by Tutto Atalanta, the forward will join the Super Eagles by the 15 December deadline after a mutual arrangement was sealed with the Bergamo side.
Palladino’s role in the turnaround has been central. Speaking to Italian media, the Italian manager said he held a personal conversation with the Nigerian forward to reset the relationship.
“I spoke with Ademola individually and we immediately understood each other. We have the same goal: to make Atalanta great,” he told reporters, an exchange that reflects a renewed sense of trust and purpose.
The agreement also gives Atalanta clarity for a key spell in their calendar. Lookman is expected to feature against Genoa in the Coppa Italia round of 16, where rotation is possible, and in the league trip to Verona before what could be his final outing of 2025 in the Nerazzurri colours.
