Lookman Names Reece James Toughest Defender Faced

In a recent interview with ESPN, Nigerian international Lookman named Chelsea FC captain Reece James as the toughest defender he has encountered in his career, placing Virgil van Dijk second on his list. Lookman, who made a £35 million move to Atalanta in January, discussed his experiences against top defenders across Europe.

He noted that James posed particular challenges during their encounters, especially given Lookman's previous links to Chelsea FC. Despite suffering an adductor injury during the Copa del Rey final against Real Sociedad, Lookman has made a strong impact at Atalanta, scoring in a 5-0 victory over Real Betis and registering seven goals and four assists in 19 appearances across competitions.

He also became the first Nigerian player to score for Atletico Madrid, underlining his impressive start at the club. Lookman recently returned to full training and is available for Chelsea's upcoming fixture against Nottingham Forest.