What did Atalanta pay for Ademola Lookman? Contract, price as Europa League final heroics spark transfer talk around Nigeria star

Ademola Lookman was the name on everyone's lips after Atalanta defeated Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the 2024 UEFA Europa League final.

The Nigeria international scored all three goals as Gian Piero Gasperini's side won their first major trophy since 1963 and brought an end to Leverkusen's remarkable 51-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

Lookman was a livewire throughout the contest in Dublin, as he became the sixth player in history to score a hat-trick in a major European club final, and only the fourth to do so in single-legged title matches after Real Madrid greats Ferenc Puskas (twice) and Alfredo Di Stefano, and AC Milan's Pierino Prati.

The 26-year-old Lookman, who had never reached double figures for goals in a single season before 2022/23, has now hit 15 in consecutive seasons with Atalanta. "In the past two years I've been able to take my game to a new level and show it on a more consistent basis," he said. "Maybe it could have come earlier but it's come now. I'm pleased with the progress I've made but this is just the beginning. I hope for more nights like this."

3 - Ademola #Lookman is only the second player to score a hat-trick in the final of a major European competition for an Italian side, after Pierino Prati in Milan against Ajax in the 1969 European Cup. Legendary.#UELFinal #AtaLev pic.twitter.com/bzbPdFn3IE

His performance is only likely to spark additional transfer rumours ahead of the opening of the next window. The Sporting News looks at his contract status with Atalanta and just how much the Serie A side paid to sign him.

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Atalanta signed Lookman from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig in August 2022. The reported transfer fee was €15 million.

The deal was