Former Manchester United and France striker Louis Saha has thrown his weight behind Ademola Lookman for a Premier League comeback, arguing that the Nigeria international’s transformation in continental football has made him a far more complete and attractive proposition than during his earlier, troubled spell in England.
Speaking via BetVictor, Saha pointed directly to Lookman’s time in Serie A as the decisive turning point. “Things were not going well for Ademola Lookman in the Premier League, but as soon as he went to Italy things started to gel,” the former striker said. He added: “The Premier League is still the biggest attraction, and I’m sure that he would love to come back, maybe to one of the top four.”
Saha also highlighted the tactical and physical evolution Lookman has undergone, crediting his development under Atalanta and, more recently, Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone. “He is a really unpredictable player, very strong and very aggressive. Tactically now, going from Atalanta to working under Diego Simeone, he has shown he’s very reliable, strong at both ends of the pitch,” Saha noted.
Lookman’s journey to becoming one of European football’s most sought-after wingers has been anything but straightforward. The Super Eagles forward permanently joined RB Leipzig from Everton in July 2019 for £22.5 million on a five-year contract, following a productive loan spell in 2018. Despite marking his Leipzig debut with a goal, consistent playing time proved elusive, and he was loaned to Fulham in 2020 after failing to register a single league start in his second season at the club.
The move to Atalanta in August 2022, completed for an estimated €15 million on a four-year deal, proved to be the catalyst for his revival. Under Gian Piero Gasperini’s attacking system in Bergamo, Lookman flourished, most memorably producing a match-winning hat-trick in Atalanta’s 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the 2023-24 UEFA Europa League final — a performance that cemented his status as a world-class talent. That form attracted significant interest across Europe, and in January 2026, Atletico Madrid secured his services in a deal worth up to €40 million.
Now operating in LaLiga under one of football’s most demanding coaches in Simeone, Lookman has continued to develop the defensive discipline and tactical awareness that had previously been questioned during his Premier League years. At 28, the winger is approaching the peak of his career, and Saha’s assessment reflects a broader sentiment that several English top-flight clubs may revisit their interest in a player who was once considered a failed Premier League investment.
Whether a return to England materialises will likely depend on Lookman’s continued form at Atletico Madrid and the transfer activity of top-four clubs in forthcoming windows. His trajectory — from Everton misfit to Europa League final hero to Atletico Madrid signing — represents one of the more compelling career reversals in recent European football.
