Tottenham’s Player Rejection Sparks Regret Amid Recent Confusion
Ademola Lookman moved from Atalanta to Atlético Madrid on February 1. The London-born forward has made an immediate impact for Diego Simeone’s side.
Performance since the move
Lookman has featured 12 times for Atlético. He has played 641 minutes, scoring four goals and setting up three assists.
In the Champions League he has 10 appearances. He started eight matches, averaging 59 minutes and totalling 594 minutes with two goals.
| Competition | Appearances | Starts | Total minutes | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlético (all competitions) | 12 | – | 641 | 4 |
| UEFA Champions League 2025/26 | 10 | 8 | 594 | 2 |
Notable recent matches
Lookman played 69 minutes in Atlético’s 5-2 Champions League win over Tottenham last week. He did not record a goal or assist in that game.
He has a direct role in seven goals since joining Atlético. His form continues to attract attention ahead of the second leg.
Transfer background and past clubs
Lookman arrived at Atalanta in August 2022 from RB Leipzig for around €15m. He then compiled 55 goals and 27 assists in 137 games for La Dea.
His season included a Europa League final hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen in 2023/24. He had prior spells at Charlton Athletic, Everton, Leicester City and Fulham.
Tottenham links and rejected offers
Lookman was reportedly offered to Tottenham twice. The offers came in the previous summer and again in January.
Filmogaz.com reports say Spurs declined both proposals despite needing attacking reinforcements. The club then signed Conor Gallagher for €40m.
Reaction and market value
Questions have been raised about Tottenham’s player rejection. The decision has sparked regret amid recent confusion over transfer priorities and squad needs.
Transfermarkt now values Lookman at €40m. That is €5m higher than his valuation before the Atlético move.
What’s next
Atlético face Tottenham in the Champions League last 16 second leg on Wednesday. Lookman has another chance to influence the tie and potentially score against Igor Tudor’s side.
Should he add to his tally, Tottenham may face renewed scrutiny for letting the opportunity pass twice. The short-term results will shape how that judgment ages.
