Napoli has officially signed Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea, marking a reunion with his former manager Antonio Conte.
The Serie A club agreed to a fixed fee of £25.2 million (€30 million) for Lukaku after resolving image rights issues last week, facilitating his return to Italy.
The 31-year-old forward has not played for Chelsea in over two years, having spent the last two seasons on loan at Inter Milan and Roma. During his tenure at Inter, Lukaku flourished under Conte, scoring 64 goals in 95 appearances. His performance at Inter led Chelsea to re-sign him for a club-record fee of £97.5 million in 2021. However, Lukaku’s second stint at Stamford Bridge was underwhelming, as he managed only eight goals in 26 Premier League appearances.
Last season, Lukaku found success at Roma, netting 21 goals in 47 matches and helping the team reach the Europa League semi-finals. With his contract at Juventus set to expire at the end of the season, Lukaku was informed by new coach Thiago Motta that he was free to leave earlier in the transfer window, as he was not part of the plans for the upcoming season.
Lukaku’s transfer to Napoli marks the second signing for Liverpool under manager Arne Slot, following the acquisition of goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia for €40 million. Mamardashvili will remain with Valencia until the end of the current season before moving to Anfield next summer.
Chelsea’s Search for a New Striker
In the wake of Lukaku’s departure, Chelsea is now actively seeking a new striker ahead of the transfer deadline. The club is reportedly in discussions to sign Victor Osimhen, with sources indicating that “everybody is talking to everybody,” as Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli also expresses interest in the Nigerian international.
Al Ahli has offered Osimhen a lucrative four-year contract worth €120 million (£101 million), but he has yet to decide on his future. Chelsea, initially preferring a loan arrangement, is now open to a temporary deal with an obligation to buy.
Additionally, Chelsea is considering a move for Brentford’s Ivan Toney. The England international has not featured in Brentford’s first three matches this season and is seen as a viable option due to his impressive goal-scoring record, relatively low wages, and the fact that he has only one year left on his contract.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank has declined to comment on Toney’s future following their recent victory, maintaining a consistent stance on the matter. As the transfer window draws to a close, Chelsea’s pursuit of a new striker is intensifying.
Romelu is proud to be one of us!
💙 #ProudToBeNapoli | #ForzaNapoliSempre | #WelcomeLukaku pic.twitter.com/Z4R4x4LVkz
— Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) August 29, 2024
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