Peter Crouch heaped huge praise on ‘footballing nomad’ Ademola Lookman after the 26-year-old scored a stunning hat-trick to win the Europa League for Atalanta.

Wednesday’s 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin ended the Bundesliga side’s dream of completing an unbeaten campaign as Atalanta inflicted a first defeat of the season.

Lookman was the star of the show as he completed a hat-trick inside 75 minutes at the Aviva Stadium to deliver the Serie A side a first European title in the club’s history.

His phenomenal goalscoring return also made the former Fulham and Everton striker the first-ever player to score three goals in a Europa League final and marking a career highlight.

Lookman’s journey to this moment has been a long one with the London-born star first moving into the professional ranks at Charlton before later moving to Everton where he struggled by scoring just one goal in 36 appearances.

Further moves to RB Leipzig, Fulham and Leicester all followed before making the switch to Italy two-years ago with former Liverpool striker Crouch explaining Lookman has found his ‘home’ in Italy.

‘This is why you play football. Someone like Lookman who has been around, a footballing nomad at times, someone who’s been Sunday league, to Charlton to Fulham on loan, Leicester, RB Leipzig, he’s gone around the houses to get to the moment where he’s found a home today and scored a hat-trick in a European cup final,’ Crouch told TNT Sport.

‘It’s an amazing story and those fans will never forget the name Ademola Lookman, it’s absolutely sensational.

‘Obviously it’s really emotional for him, his family I’m sure and it was a footballing masterclass from Gasperini, they were brilliant as a team but so pleased for Lookman,’ he added.

Lookman led Atalanta’s title celebrations as he was hoisted into the air by his team-mates and manager Gian Piero Gasperini while also picking up the Europa League’s player of the match award.

Beaming in the immediate aftermath of ending Atalanta’s 61-year wait for silverware, Lookman said: ‘It’s one of the best nights of my life.

‘It was an amazing performance from the team. We did it… We made history tonight.’

Lookman sensational three goals in the European final moved him onto 15 strikes for the season with his current contract with the Italian side running until 2026.