Lookman is just one move away from joining elites that have played in the top five European leagues after the Atletico deal

Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman could become the fourth player to play in the top five European football leagues if he joins any club in the French league after Monday's move to Atletico Madrid.

Only three players - Christian Poulsen, Justin Kluivert and Stevan Jovetic - have featured in all of Europe's "big five" leagues, which also includes France's Ligue 1.

Before Lookman, former Super Eagles striker Obafemi Martins had played in the Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A and La Liga.

Atletico Madrid signed Lookman from Atalanta in a deal worth £30.3m.

The London-born 28-year-old has played in Serie A since 2022, scoring 55 times and making 27 assists following a move from Bundesliga club RB Leipzig.

His goals included a hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen in 2024, which secured the club's first European trophy.

In 2024, he was named African Footballer of the Year and was also the only African player on the men's Ballon d'Or shortlist that year, finishing 14th.

He represented England at the youth level, winning the Under-20 World Cup in 2017, before making his debut for Nigeria in 2022.

Atletico, who are third in Spain's top flight and trail leaders Barcelona by ten points, announced they had agreed a deal with Atalanta on Monday before confirming that Lookman has signed until June 2030 on transfer deadline day.

He began his career at Charlton Athletic, playing his first game in 2015, before moving to Everton two years later, where he scored on his Premier League debut. Following a successful loan spell, he then moved permanently to Leipzig in July 2019.

He then had season-long loans with Fulham and Leicester City before making the switch to Italy.

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid also signed Mexico's Alaska-born midfielder Obed Vargas from Major League Soccer side Seattle Sounders.

Vargas, who was born in Anchorage, has joined the Spanish club on a deal until 30 June 2030.

The 20-year-old joined the Sounders in 2019 and made his MLS debut on 22 July 2021 when, aged 15 years and 351 days, he became the then-third youngest player in the league.

He has won the 2021-22 Concacaf Champions League and 2025 Leagues Cup with the Sounders and played against Atletico at last summer's Fifa Club World Cup.