Napoli Sign Romelu Lukaku On Permanent Transfer

Romelu Lukaku’s Chelsea chapter closes as Napoli confirm permanent deal.

The Belgian forward second stint at Chelsea has come to an end, with Napoli announcing his permanent transfer on Thursday.

Lukaku previously played for Chelsea from 2011 to 2014, returned to the club in 2021 but spent the last two seasons on loan at Inter Milan and Roma.

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He reunites with Napoli manager Antonio Conte, with whom he enjoyed success at Inter Milan, winning the Serie A title in 2020-21 and scoring 47 goals in 72 games.

However, he failed to replicate that form at Chelsea, scoring just eight Premier League goals in his first season back.

The 30-year-old striker has an impressive record in Serie A, scoring 13 league goals for Roma last season and adding seven more in the Europa League.

Lukaku is Belgium’s all-time leading scorer with 85 goals in 119 appearances.

Chelsea’s decision to let Lukaku go is part of their efforts to trim their squad before the transfer window closes, with Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell also deemed surplus to requirements by manager Enzo Maresca.