The media officer for Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Babafemi Raji, has highlighted that the team’s participation in the recently concluded 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) significantly increased global interest in the tournament hosted in Ivory Coast.
Winger Ademola Lookman has experienced a notable boost in his market value, which is now estimated at €55 million. This €15 million increase positions Lookman ahead of Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface, who is valued at €45 million, making Lookman Nigeria’s second most valuable player, right after Victor Osimhen, whose value stands at €75 million.
Lookman’s outstanding performance has also earned him the 2024 CAF Player of the Year award, beating out formidable contenders like Simon Adingra from Ivory Coast, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, and Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy. Additionally, Lookman secured the 14th spot in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings.
The 27-year-old winger has firmly established himself among Nigeria’s elite football talents over the past two seasons. At the end of 2023, his market value was listed at €30 million, but an exceptional year resulted in an impressive €25 million surge, representing an 83.33% increase.
By June 2024, following a standout performance in the UEFA Europa League final where he scored a hat-trick in Atalanta’s 3-0 victory over Leverkusen, his valuation soared to €40 million.
Jatin Dietl, Transfermarkt’s Italy Area Manager, remarked, “Lookman capped off his remarkable 2024 with the African Ballon d’Or, and rightly so. His exceptional form has played a crucial role in Atalanta’s success, leading the club to its first international title.”
Prior to reaching this highpoint, Lookman attracted interest from several top European clubs, including PSG, Arsenal, and Liverpool, all of whom were keen on signing him last summer. However, keeping him in Atalanta may prove challenging as the season unfolds.
In spite of the rising interest in Lookman, Atalanta President Antonio Percassi has reiterated the club’s commitment to retaining him during the January transfer window, stating, “Our plan is not to change anything in the January window,” regarding the forward’s future.
