- Romelu Lukaku has completed his £38million transfer from Chelsea to Napoli
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Romelu Lukaku has completed his £38million move to Napoli, ending his second spell at Chelsea.
Positive talks have taken place this week and the 31-year-old Belgian, one of the players from the Blues’ ‘bomb squad’ that was up for sale, has been reunited with his former head coach Antonio Conte.
The Italian club have agreed a deal to pay £26million plus an additional £12million for the forward, who has signed a three-year contract to reunite with Conte.
The deal will see Lukaku represent a new Serie A club after spending the last two seasons on loan in Italy, with Inter Milan in 2022-23 and Roma in 2023-24.
Chelsea previously paid Inter £97.5million to sign Lukaku in August 2021. He scored 15 goals in 44 games in the 2021-22 season. He has not played for the Stamford Bridge club since May 2022.
Romelu Lukaku has completed his £38million move to Napoli, ending his second spell at Chelsea
Lukaku (left) reunites with manager Antonio Conte (right) at Napoli after their previous success at Internazionale
Lukaku arrives at Hotel Parker’s in Napoli with his agent ahead of his transfer announcement
Chelsea wanted to sell Lukaku permanently this summer rather than loan him out again, while Conte is keen to work with him again after working together at Inter.
Napoli started the season with a 3-0 defeat to Verona on the opening day of the new campaign, before losing 3-0 to Bologna on Sunday.
Chelsea also showed serious interest in Napoli’s Victor Osimhen this summer and are still looking for a new striker.
Head coach Enzo Maresca admitted as much after their Conference League win over Servette on Thursday: ‘If we have the chance to develop nine players who can help us and make a difference, we will try.’
Chelsea are expected to show increased interest in Osimhen once the sale of Lukaku is completed.
However, there are still plenty of other players Chelsea are keen to get rid of before the transfer window closes.
Lukaku has not played for Chelsea since 2022 and has spent the last two seasons on loan
Earlier on Wednesday, £72million goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who earns around £200,000 a week, completed his loan move to Bournemouth after signing a one-year extension to his Chelsea contract.
Another Chelsea goalkeeper, Djordje Petrovic, also left the club on Wednesday and will move to Strasbourg for the season.
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest defender Murillo is on Chelsea’s radar as Trevoh Chalobah, Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile all leave.