Leicester City fans are all saying the same thing after Ademola Lookman won African Player of the Year

Ademola Lookman delivered a stunning performance in the Europa League final, scoring a hat-trick to secure Atalanta’s victory and end Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten run.

The 27-year-old’s impressive display not only clinched silverware for his side but also capped off a stellar season in which he scored 17 goals and provided 10 assists across all competitions.

Lookman’s outstanding form earned him a nomination for the prestigious Ballon d’Or, placing him alongside some of the world’s best players, such as Manchester City’s Rodri and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe.

This recognition reflects Lookman’s remarkable transformation into one of Europe’s top attackers, a far cry from his time at Leicester City, where he struggled to fully establish himself.

Now, Leicester fans can only reflect on what might have been had they signed the Nigerian forward permanently.

Why Leicester City Missed Out on Ademola Lookman

Lookman initially joined Leicester City on a season-long loan during the summer of 2021 as the club aimed to strengthen their attack and compete for European places.

During his loan spell, Lookman delivered a solid return of six goals in 26 Premier League appearances, catching the eye of then-manager Brendan Rodgers.

Rodgers was eager to sign the forward permanently for a fee of £14 million, but Leicester’s financial situation prevented the deal from materializing.

Rodgers later explained the situation, saying: “The only sad part for us [at Leicester] was that, at the end of that season, we could have bought him for £14m.

But you think back to that summer – we couldn’t sign any players.

One of my guys who I worked closely with at Celtic and Leicester, Lee Congerton, was by then the general manager of Atalanta.”

Atalanta ultimately capitalized on the opportunity and secured Lookman’s services, paving the way for his remarkable development into the player he is today.

Leicester Fans React as Lookman Wins African Player of the Year

Since his time at Leicester, Lookman’s stock has risen significantly.

His incredible performances for Atalanta have not gone unnoticed, and he has now been crowned the African Player of the Year.

This prestigious award has previously been won by footballing legends such as Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, Yaya Toure, and Mohamed Salah, underscoring Lookman’s emergence as one of Africa’s elite talents.

Leicester City fans have taken to social media to express their frustration at the club’s inability to secure Lookman for just £14 million.

Many supporters lamented the club’s poor financial decisions, which ultimately cost them the chance to retain the Nigerian international.

One fan wrote: “Context… we spent £25m on Skipp but couldn’t afford £15m for Lookman.” Another added: “What could’ve been, man. I’ll never get over this one. NEVER.”

Others pointed to the financial mismanagement that plagued Leicester during that period. “Pains me that we couldn’t sign him due to FFP.

Again highlighting some terrible recent management of the club on a financial level,” one supporter commented.

The frustration was further amplified by comparisons to other missed opportunities. Another fan remarked:

“Yunus Akgun, another Lookman? We spent £25m on Skipp when stacked in that area, when we could have had Yunus for £7-10m in an area we’re short. He’s pulling up trees this season too.”

Lookman’s resurgence has undoubtedly left Leicester fans wondering what might have been.

From being a promising loanee to a Ballon d’Or nominee and Africa’s top player, Ademola Lookman’s rise serves as a reminder of missed opportunities in football.