Ademola Lookman Olajade Alade Aylola is his full name. But he is simply known as Ademola Lookman. Fans now call him “Mola”
His career which started in 2008 with Waterloo saw him spend five years as a youth player. He moved to Charlton Athletic where he spent another two years before joining the senior team in 2015 where he spent another two years. It was here he won the FIFA U-20 World Cup precisely in 2017 with Young Lions of England.
If he didn’t switch allegiance to Nigeria in 2022 knowing that he had limited opportunities to play for England, perhaps this footballer won’t have been where he is talking about his recognition as the 14th best footballer on the planet.
If he decided to remain in England where he is underestimated and undervalued he probably won’t have achieved his present feat. Remember it took him five years to wait for senior England (Three Lions) call after winning the U-20 World Cup but the call never came hence his switch to Nigeria.
A move to Italy in the City of Bergamo was all he needed to spark off the shine in his club career with Atalanta.
The spark took him to Europa League final against a red hot Bayer Leverkusen who had conquered Germany and were expanding their conquest to Europe. He stole the show with a superb hattrick on that night that would announce him to the world.
That performance was all he needed to write his name in football’s Hall of Fame. He was named 14th best footballer on Earth in Ballon d’Or awards recently held in Paris, France and most likely he will be Africa’s best player come December 16 in Marrakesh Morocco
He probably knew or heard of the stories of Nigerian born footballers like Ugo Ehiogu, John Fashanu, Nedum Onuoha, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Carlton Cole among others. He decided to take his destiny in his own by going the way of his father land.
That was after he won the FIFA U-20 World Cup with England in South Korea 2017. The young Lions beat Venezuela 1-0 in the final played in Suwon. Ordinarily, that feat should have made him remain with England where he had played for the U-19, U-20 and U-21.
His decision is paying off. He featured in Cote d’Ivoire 2023 AFCON and scored three goals that helped Nigeria’s campaign in the final. She reached the final.
In Italy with Atalanta, he has built a reputation as one of football greats and the club’s most honoured player in recent times.
Lookman wad sent on loan thrice. First with Bundesliga side RB Leipzig in 2018. Then in Fulham in 2020/21 and later Leicester City in 2021/22. By he time he moved to Atalanta many didn’t know it was a move that will make his career dream come true.
Today he is living his dream…a dream that see him wear the crown of African football.