Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman, has earned a nomination for the coveted Forward of the Year category at the prestigious Gran Galà del Calcio awards, following an exceptional season for Atalanta.
The announcement highlights Lookman’s rise to prominence in Serie A and on the European stage.
The 27-year-old, who is also a finalist for the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year, faces tough competition for the Italian accolade from Inter Milan’s Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez, as well as AC Milan star Rafael Leao.
These nominations reflect his standout contributions to Atalanta’s success, particularly in the latter half of the 2023/24 campaign.
Lookman’s impact during the season was unparalleled, with the Nigerian forward registering an incredible 14 goal contributions—eight goals and six assists—from April to the campaign’s conclusion.
This feat made him the most productive attacking player across Europe’s top five leagues during that period.
His crowning achievement came during the UEFA Europa League final, where he delivered a stunning hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen.
This historic performance cemented Atalanta’s victory and capped a season in which Lookman amassed an impressive 17 goals and 10 assists across all competitions.
His brilliance has carried over into the current season, with the London-born star already netting eight goals and providing five assists in just 14 appearances for the Bergamo-based side.
Lookman’s consistency has garnered attention beyond Serie A, earning him a spot among the final five nominees for the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year.
He stands alongside Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, and South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
The Gran Galà del Calcio, an annual event organized by the Italian Players’ Association, recognizes excellence in Italian football.
Winners are determined through votes from association members, with the ceremony slated for December 2. Atalanta has also been nominated for the Serie A Club of the Year, while manager Gian Piero Gasperini is a contender for Coach of the Year, competing against Simone Inzaghi of Inter Milan and Thiago Motta, who managed both Bologna and Juventus during the year.
Lookman’s footballing journey reflects his determination and adaptability. Born and raised in south London, he began his career at Charlton Athletic before moving to Everton in the Premier League.
Stints at Fulham, Leicester City, and RB Leipzig followed, but his 2022 transfer to Atalanta has proven transformative, establishing him as one of Serie A’s most feared attackers.
As the countdown begins to the Gran Galà del Calcio awards and the CAF Awards ceremony, scheduled two weeks later in Marrakech, Morocco, Lookman is widely regarded as a favorite to claim Africa’s top individual prize.
With an extraordinary year of success for both club and country, the Nigerian forward is poised for greater recognition on football’s biggest stages.
