Now a assured starter for each membership and nation, he performed a pivotal function in Nigeria’s run to the ultimate of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations at first of this yr.
Lookman scored each targets within the last-16 victory over Cameroon after which the winner in opposition to Angola within the quarter-finals.
Nigeria finished as runners-up however the ahead may console himself with a spot within the crew of the event.
Tremendous Eagles team-mate Alex Iwobi says Lookman is a “nice expertise” – and one who deserves his African participant of the yr award.
“The rise that we have seen, we’re not stunned,” Iwobi advised Newsday on the BBC World Service.
“He is so efficient. [To] see what he is doing motivates everybody within the crew.
“If my brother is working laborious, we now have to work as laborious as him and even tougher.”
Lookman was the one African on this yr’s Ballon d’Or record, finally ending 14th within the race to be named the world’s greatest participant.
Forward of the awards, BBC Sport Africa requested him to replicate on his progress over the previous 12 months.
“It has been defining by way of steps taken, however that is simply the beginning of hopefully one thing very particular,” he replied.
With Atalanta main Serie A and chasing their first top-flight title, Lookman’s powers proceed to develop.
For Africa’s greatest participant, the ache of his early days within the Premier League definitely seems to be lengthy forgotten.