Ademola Lookman Agrees Terms with Inter Milan as Talks with Atalanta Progress

Nigerian international Ademola Lookman is on the verge of completing a high-profile move to Serie A giants Inter Milan, having agreed personal terms with the club on a contract that would run until 2030. The proposed deal would see Lookman earn around €4.5 million annually, with the Italian club taking advantage of the Growth Decree tax benefit.

While the agreement with the player has been reached, negotiations between Inter Milan and Lookman’s current club, Atalanta, are still ongoing. Atalanta is reportedly holding out for a transfer fee in the region of €50 million, while Inter’s initial offer believed to be closer to €40 million was structured as a loan with a mandatory purchase clause. That proposal was rejected by Atalanta, but both parties are expected to continue discussions into the coming week.

Lookman, who had an exceptional season with Atalanta and notably scored a hat-trick in the UEFA Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, is said to be prioritizing a move to Inter despite interest from other European clubs, including Atlético Madrid and Napoli. The 26-year-old forward is also reportedly willing to lower his salary demands to around €3.5 million per year to make the transfer feasible, further highlighting his desire to join the Nerazzurri.

Atalanta, meanwhile, is keen to keep Lookman and has made efforts to retain him by offering a contract extension with improved terms. However, the player has expressed a strong preference to continue his career in Milan, seeing the move as a step up in both prestige and competition.

Inter is expected to finance the deal through the sales of several players, including Tajon Buchanan, who is close to finalizing a move to Villarreal, and Mehdi Taremi, who has reportedly agreed terms with Botafogo. The proceeds from those deals could bring in nearly €30 million, significantly easing Inter’s pursuit of Lookman.

If the deal goes through, Lookman will become one of the few Nigerian players to play for Inter Milan, joining a prestigious list that includes Obafemi Martins and Nwankwo Kanu. The move would also solidify Inter’s attacking options ahead of the 2025/2026 season, as they look to maintain dominance in Italian football and make a deep run in the UEFA Champions League.

Both clubs are expected to intensify negotiations in the coming days, with Inter aiming to finalize the transfer before the start of preseason.