Ian Wright’s dream Arsenal signing announces he wants summer transfer

Ademola Lookman has handed in a transfer request at Atalanta and slammed the club for treating him ‘poorly’ after ‘many months of broken promises’.

The 27-year-old forward joined Atalanta from RB Leipzig back in 2022 and has gone on to score 52 goals in 117 appearances for the Italian outfit in all competitions.

Last year, Lookman cemented his place in Atalanta history completed a stunning hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen to help steer the club to the Europa League trophy – their first ever piece of European silverware.

However, Lookman’s relationship with Atalanta’s hierarchy began to deteriorate later that summer when the Serie A side blocked the winger from completing a proposed move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Lookman then came under fire for going against team orders and taking a crucial penalty as Atalanta were knocked out of the Champions League by Club Brugge, with Simon Mignolet denying the former Charlton and Everton man from 12 yards.

There are still two years remaining on Lookman’s current contract in Bergamo, but it appears the attacker has made up his mind and is intent on leaving before the transfer deadline.

In a lengthy statement on his social media pages, Lookman said he was ‘truly sorry’ to have to take such drastic action following an ‘extremely difficult’ period in his career.

‘Over the past three years at Atalanta, I’ve given absolutely everything. Not just as a footballer, but as a person. I’ve always worn the shirt with pride and tried to represent this club and the city of Bergamo with heart, passion and dedication,’ he wrote.

‘I came here with the hope of helping this special club grow and together, we’ve created memories that will stay with me forever. Winning the Europa League and standing shoulder to shoulder with my teammates that night in Dublin celebrating with our fans was one of the proudest moments of my career so far. It still gives me goosebumps thinking about it.

‘Atalanta, and especially its supporters, have become a part of me. This place has felt like home from the moment I arrived and I’ve always tried to repay that love – even in moments where things haven’t been easy behind the scenes.

‘That’s what makes writing this so hard. I have loved every moment but feel that now, after three wonderful years in Bergamo, it is the right time to move on and experience a new adventure.’

According to Lookman, Atalanta continue to hold him hostage despite receiving a suitable bid from a potential suitor this summer.

‘There have been numerous clubs approach Atalanta in the past and I have previously always stayed loyal. However, myself and the ownership of the club have been in agreement that now is the right time and the club were clear with me that if a fair offer came in they would allow me to move,’ he added.

‘Despite now receiving an offer in alignment to what I believe had been discussed sadly the club are blocking the opportunity for reasons I do not understand.

‘As a result and after many months of broken promises and what I feel has been poor treatment towards me as both a human being and as a professional footballer, sadly I feel I have no choice but to speak out for what I believe is right and I feel that enough is enough.’

Lookman continued: ‘I can confirm I have now handed in a formal transfer request.

‘Even throughout the extremely difficult moments I’ve endured, many of which have remained private and confidential, I have always tried to put the club, the fans and the team first and hoped it would not get to this, but I unfortunately feel there is now little choice.

‘To the fans – the heartbeat of this club – I want to say this: I’m truly sorry it’s come to this. I hope you can understand this incredibly difficult situation. It’s simply about standing up for what I believe is fair and right. The support you have always given me has been incredible and the bond we have created together is special.

‘I hope to work together with the club to find an amicable solution for all parties as soon as possible. With love and gratitude, Ademola.’

There should be no shortage of interest in Lookman considering how the reigning African Footballer of the Year performed across an eye-catching 2024/25 campaign, in which he notched 20 goals in 40 games.

Among Lookman’s admirers is Ian Wright, who has repeatedly waxed lyrical about the forward across his time in Italian football with Atalanta.

Earlier this summer, the legendary ex-Arsenal and England striker even picked Lookman out as one of his dream signings for the Gunners following another season without any silverware under Mikel Arteta.

‘I’m going to go with Ademola Lookman winning the African Player of the Year in respects of that man’s journey,’ the ex-Arsenal and England striker said on the Wrighty’s House podcast.

‘I’m going to go with Ademola Lookman winning the African Player of the Year in respects of that man’s journey,’ Wright said on Wrighty’s House podcast.

‘I remember him from Charlton, it didn’t work out, £10million to Everton, then moving all over the place, the journey from loan to this, then I think that’s one of the most devastating performances I’ve seen in any final with that hat-trick he scored.

‘You know, it’s just… I can’t help but look at his dark moments where it would have been dark for him. You know, especially all those loans going to another country. And you know what? He never had any problem going wherever he needed to go to find it.

‘And then obviously, like you say, you find your place. Like Scott McTominay’s found that, like he’s found with Atalanta.

‘I hope we can buy him, Arsenal. I would love someone like him to come back to the Premier League and say, “Listen, I have unfinished business here so I am going to help Arsenal win the league”.

‘But I just admire his journey and now he’s recognised rightly as a top player, unbelievable.’

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