Nicolas Pepe, the former Arsenal and Villarreal winger, has singled out Ademola Lookman as the African player who has impressed him most in La Liga this season, describing the Nigerian forward’s adaptation to Spanish football as nothing short of remarkable.
When asked during an interview to identify the standout African performer in La Liga, Pepe was unequivocal. “Lookman, from Atletico Madrid. What a player! Frankly, he came from Italy, I think. From Atalanta. In the space of two months, he has put everyone in agreement,” Pepe said. “He arrived a little late at a big club, but when I say ‘late’, it’s because he could have arrived at a big club much earlier, where he stayed a little too long at Atalanta, but it’s not worth his quality, where he’s a top, top, top player.”
Lookman’s move to Atletico Madrid was completed during the January 2026 transfer window, with Diego Simeone’s side paying €40 million for the Super Eagles forward — a deal structured around a €35 million fixed fee plus up to €5 million in performance-related add-ons. The transfer ended a prolonged period of speculation that had linked the winger with a number of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Arsenal, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Galatasaray.
The 27-year-old’s performances at Atalanta had made him one of the most sought-after attackers on the continent. His ability to operate across the frontline, combined with a knack for decisive contributions in big matches, attracted widespread attention well before Atletico moved to secure his signature. Lookman had been instrumental for Atalanta in Serie A and European competition, most notably scoring a hat-trick in the 2024 UEFA Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen.
Since arriving in Madrid, Lookman has continued that form, registering four goals and two assists across all competitions. His impact in the UEFA Champions League has been particularly notable, with a decisive goal helping Atletico Madrid advance to the semi-final stage of the competition. Despite Atletico suffering defeat to Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey final, Lookman’s focus is now reported to be on the Champions League, where his side remain in contention.
Pepe’s comments carry added context given his own experience in Spanish football. The Ivorian winger, who had a difficult four-year spell at Arsenal before joining Villarreal on loan, is well-placed to assess the demands of adapting quickly to a new league and club environment — something he himself found challenging during his career.
Lookman’s trajectory stands in contrast to Pepe’s own stop-start career path. Having come through the ranks at Charlton Athletic before moving to Huddersfield Town and then RB Leipzig, where his performances attracted Atalanta’s interest, Lookman has progressively raised his level at each stage. His consistent output in Serie A — particularly from the 2022-23 season onwards — ultimately made the step up to a Champions League contender like Atletico Madrid a logical progression.
With Atletico Madrid still involved in the latter stages of the Champions League and Lookman firmly established in the starting lineup under Simeone, the Nigerian international will be eager to add a major European trophy to his growing list of accolades. His form will also be closely monitored ahead of Nigeria’s upcoming international commitments with the Super Eagles.
