Napoli has secured the services of Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea, the Serie A club announced on Thursday. The Belgian striker’s extended period of uncertainty with the Blues has come to an end with this move. Club owner Aurelio De Laurentiis confirmed the deal, reportedly worth 30 million euros (USD 33.2 million), on social media, welcoming Lukaku with a photo of him signing his three-year contract.
This move keeps Lukaku in Italy, where he will now play for his third club in three years, after loan spells at Inter Milan and Roma. The 31-year-old striker was a beloved figure among Inter fans, leading the team to the Serie A title in 2021 under current Napoli manager Antonio Conte. His success led to a move to Chelsea for over 100 million euros that summer, but Lukaku’s return to Stamford Bridge proved unsuccessful.
This hefty transfer fee left Lukaku in limbo as clubs were reluctant to meet Chelsea’s asking price. The 2022/23 season saw him return to Inter on loan, but he was hampered by injury and fell behind Edin Dzeko in the pecking order. His potential permanent transfer to Inter fell through last summer when it emerged he had been in contact with rival clubs AC Milan and Juventus. This led Lukaku and Chelsea to agree on another loan deal with Roma. However, Roma was not interested in a permanent deal, paving the way for Conte to reunite with the striker, whose reputation has taken a hit in recent years.
Despite the recent setbacks, Lukaku remains Belgium’s all-time top scorer with 85 goals in 119 appearances. This move will see him play under Conte’s guidance once again, with the hope of reigniting his career in Italy.
