Nigeria international Ademola Lookman has presented his CAF African Player of the Year trophy—widely dubbed the African Ballon d’Or—to his family and community in Lagos Island after returning home to a hero’s welcome.

The 27-year-old touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Monday to fanfare and celebration, with supporters dressed in Nigerian and Atalanta colours chanting his name and dancing as he emerged holding the coveted award. The moment was captured in a video posted on X.

Lookman’s return marks his first public appearance in Nigeria with the trophy since clinching the title in December 2024, following a stellar 2023/24 season. His achievements included helping Atalanta lift the UEFA Europa League and powering Nigeria to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. He ended the season with a personal best of 20 goals.

In new videos that surfaced on Wednesday, Lookman was seen at his family’s residence in Lagos Island, holding up the CAF trophy as a crowd of fans gathered around him. A fan could be heard hailing, “African best,” while another clip showed him warmly embracing elderly family members with a smile on his face.

The English-born Nigerian forward has quickly become one of Europe’s most sought-after players, with top clubs such as Arsenal, Manchester United, Barcelona and Juventus reportedly interested in signing him. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano previously confirmed that Lookman is expected to leave Atalanta this summer, with the Serie A club slapping a €65 million price tag on the player following a rejected bid from Paris Saint-Germain.

Lookman’s future is further complicated by reports from Calciomercato indicating that Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini is pushing to retain at least two of the club’s top stars—Lookman among them—before agreeing to renew his contract. Gasperini is said to be concerned about a potential mass exit as elite clubs circle.