Ademola Lookman: What next for Africa's best after a summer of broken promises?

The 2025-26 summer transfer window has been full of players agitating for moves away, and Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman is no exception.

The reigning CAF Player of the Year, who accused Atalanta of broken promises, has been eager to leave the club for some time, even before controversial comments made by former boss Gian Piero Gasperini, who berated his star player for missing a penalty.

Lookman’s contract at Atalanta expires next summer, but the club holds an option to extend it by a year, giving them leverage in negotiations. However, they have shown little willingness to negotiate, especially with another Serie A club, as CEO Luca Percassi has made abundantly clear.

That brings us to Inter Milan. The Nerazzurri made two bids for Lookman, neither meeting Atalanta’s reported €55-60 million asking price.

Considering Lookman’s situation and age (27), Inter believe they’ve gone as high as possible and have reportedly backed out of negotiations.

So, what’s next for the Nigerian forward? He has burned bridges in Bergamo, essentially going on strike and risking hefty fines to force a move.

With just 10 days left in the transfer window and no serious takers at Atalanta’s price point, there’s a real possibility that Lookman could be reinstated by new boss Ivan Juric.

This may not necessarily be the worst outcome for all parties. Lookman remains Atalanta’s best player, having scored 20 goals in 41 appearances last season. After Mateo Retegui’s departure, he will become even more crucial to the club's plans of being competitive on all fronts.

Sure, he may face fines for his two-week strike, or perhaps Atalanta could take a lenient approach, but one more season in Bergamo and a move next summer might just work out fine.