Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad ready to make Ademola Lookman the highest-paid Nigerian footballer
Saudi Arabian club Al Ittihad are ready to sign Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman in a move that would make him the highest-paid Nigerian footballer, surpassing Victor Osimhen.
Lookman was instrumental in Atalanta Bergamo’s Europa League success last season and has garnered significant interest from top European clubs like Manchester United, Juventus, and Bayern Munich. However, it appears that Al Ittihad is closest to securing his services.
Transfer expert Rudy Galetti revealed that Lookman has verbally agreed to join Al Ittihad following an improved offer from the Saudi Pro League side.
Al Ittihad has proposed a salary of $15 million per season (approximately €13.89 million), eclipsing Osimhen’s current earnings of €12.82 million with Napoli. Lookman’s current salary at Atalanta stands at €2.3 million per year, making this potential deal a substantial financial upgrade for the Super Eagles forward.
Despite Lookman’s informal approval, Al Ittihad must still reach an agreement with Atalanta, who value the 26-year-old at around €70 million. The Saudi club’s initial offer of $35 million is significantly below this valuation, and negotiations are ongoing. Lookman’s market value is listed at €40 million on Transfermarkt.
Last season, Lookman was a standout performer for Atalanta, featuring in 45 matches across all competitions and contributing 17 goals and 10 assists. While the deal is not yet finalized, Lookman’s potential transfer to Al Ittihad adds further weight to the growing allure of the Saudi Pro League, which continues to attract top talent globally with lucrative contracts.
