Arsenal have launched formal transfer talks with red-hot Nigerian winger Ademola Lookman, setting the stage for one of the summer’s most anticipated transfer battles.
The Gunners are understood to have made initial contact with the Atalanta star, whose stock skyrocketed after a stunning Europa League final hat-trick that handed the Italian club its first-ever European title.
With just one year left on his contract, Lookman is open to a new challenge—and Arsenal are hoping to lure him back to the Premier League.
For Lookman, 26, a move to Arsenal would mark a homecoming of sorts. He began his professional career in England, coming through the ranks at Charlton Athletic before stints with Everton, Fulham, and Leicester City. Since joining Atalanta in 2022, he has transformed into one of Europe’s most effective wide attackers.
His numbers speak volumes: 52 goals and 25 assists in 118 matches, and most memorably, that historic hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen in the 2024 Europa League final—the first ever in the competition’s showpiece match.
Despite boasting one of Europe’s best defences over the past two seasons, Arsenal’s frontline has struggled with consistency. Mikel Arteta’s side is now actively seeking a clinical, explosive winger to complement or rotate with Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, and Leandro Trossard.
Sources close to the North London club suggest Lookman is seen as an ideal fit—a player with Champions League-level experience, Premier League familiarity, and proven big-game impact.
Atalanta reportedly want €60 million for the player, whose contract runs out in 2026. But they face pressure from multiple angles.
Napoli, fresh off selling Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to PSG, are pushing hardest. President Aurelio De Laurentiis is personally involved in negotiations and has already tabled a €50 million offer, potentially sweetening the deal with forward Giacomo Raspadori.
Meanwhile, Manchester United, Liverpool, Juventus, and even Barcelona are monitoring the situation closely, though Arsenal are believed to hold an emotional edge—given Lookman’s past ties to English football and his reported preference for a return to the UK.
While the competition is fierce, Arsenal are confident they can present a sporting project that resonates with Lookman. With UEFA Champions League football, a youthful core, and Arteta’s high-octane style, the Emirates could be the perfect stage for the Nigerian to thrive.
The coming days will be crucial as Arsenal seek to step up negotiations and potentially submit an opening bid.
Ademola Lookman has gone from a promising teenager at Charlton to one of Europe’s most feared forwards—and now, he may be headed back to where it all began.
Will Arsenal win the race? Or will Napoli’s aggressive bid turn his head toward Italy once again?
Whatever happens, Lookman’s next move could reshape the attacking balance of any team he joins—and the Premier League might just be the biggest winner of all.
Arsenal Open Talks with Lookman Amid Summer Transfer Scramble
