Galatasaray Eyes January Move For Lookman

In a move that could reunite two of Nigeria’s brightest attacking talents, Turkish powerhouse Galatasaray is preparing a January push to sign Ademola Lookman from Atalanta.

The reigning African Player of the Year has found himself at the centre of a complex transfer saga, with the relationship with his current club appearing increasingly fractured beyond repair.

The potential transfer has gained significant momentum in recent days, with football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano noting that while Galatasaray has the Nigerian on their shortlist, they are not alone in their interest.

“One to watch with possible move in 2026,” Romano added, signaling what could be one of the most prominent deals of the upcoming winter window.

Lookman’s situation at Atalanta has been deteriorating for months, despite being at the heart of the club’s finest hour—their 3-0 Europa League final victory over Bayer Leverkusen in May 2024, where he scored a historic hat-trick.

The breakdown began publicly when former manager Gian Piero Gasperini derisively commented that Lookman was “one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen,” creating an initial rift .

The tension escalated under successor Ivan Juric, culminating in a touchline spat during a Champions League match against Marseille, where the manager appeared to grab and shove the Nigerian forward after he expressed unhappiness at being substituted.

Although Juric has since been dismissed, the damage appears lasting—Lookman has already taken symbolic steps to distance himself from the club by unfollowing Atalanta on Instagram and removing all posts related to the team.

Reports indicate the Turkish club is considering a loan deal with an option to navigate Atalanta’s hefty asking price, which is believed to be in the range of €55-60 million.

Alternatively, some sources suggest a direct offer of around €40 million might be tabled.