Napoli have officially secured the permanent transfer of Chelsea’s outcast striker Romelu Lukaku for a reported fee of £37 million.
The Belgium international was among a group of Chelsea players who were informed earlier in the summer that they no longer had a future at Stamford Bridge.
After spending the previous season on loan at Roma, Lukaku was eager to return to Italy and quickly became a prime target for Napoli, the 2022/23 Serie A champions.
Following negotiations, the two clubs agreed on a transfer fee, making Napoli Lukaku’s third Italian club, after previous stints with Inter Milan and a loan spell at Roma.
Lukaku’s international record speaks for itself, with an impressive tally of 85 goals in 119 appearances for Belgium, making him one of the most prolific strikers in modern international football.
However, his club career has been marked by inconsistency.
Lukaku’s journey began when Chelsea signed him from Anderlecht in 2011 after recognizing his potential.
He soon made a name for himself during loan spells at West Bromwich Albion and Everton, eventually securing a permanent move to Goodison Park.
His standout season came in 2016/17, when he netted 25 goals in the Premier League, prompting a big-money move to Manchester United for an initial £75 million.
Despite this, Lukaku struggled to maintain his form, scoring 42 goals in 96 appearances across all competitions before moving to Inter Milan, where he revitalized his career.
At Inter, Lukaku formed a lethal strike partnership with Lautaro Martinez, leading the club to the 2020/21 Serie A title, as well as victories in the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana.
This success caught Chelsea’s attention once more, and they re-signed him for a staggering £97.5 million.
Lukaku’s second spell at Chelsea started on a high, with a goal in his debut match against Arsenal in a 2-0 victory.
However, tensions with then-manager Thomas Tuchel led to Lukaku being sidelined, ultimately resulting in his return to Italy, where he spent two seasons on loan with Inter and Roma.
Now, with his move to Napoli confirmed, Lukaku looks to once again prove his worth in Serie A.
“Romelu is proud to be one of us! 💙 #ProudToBeNapoli | #ForzaNapoliSempre | #WelcomeLukaku,” tweeted the official SSC Napoli account on August 29, 2024.
