Napoli have finalized the signing of Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea in a deal worth £30 million. The 31-year-old forward reunites with Antonio Conte, the Napoli manager, under whom he enjoyed significant success at Inter Milan during the 2019-2021 seasons.
Lukaku’s return to Chelsea in 2021 saw the club invest £97.5 million, but the forward has spent the last two seasons on loan in Serie A, first returning to Inter and then playing for Roma. His impressive tally of 24 goals in the 2020-2021 Serie A season under Conte’s guidance was a major factor in Chelsea’s decision to bring him back to Stamford Bridge.
With Lukaku not having featured for Chelsea since May 2022, the move also helps the Premier League club offload his substantial £325,000-a-week salary from their wage bill. Conte hinted during a pre-match press conference that Lukaku could potentially make his debut for Napoli in their upcoming fixture against Parma, scheduled for Saturday at 19:45 BST.
In addition to Lukaku’s departure, Chelsea have seen another player head to Italy. Young midfielder Tino Anjorin has completed a move to Serie A side Empoli on a three-year contract. The 21-year-old will be looking to establish himself in Italian football after limited opportunities at Stamford Bridge.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are actively pursuing a new striker to bolster their attacking options. The club is engaged in negotiations with both Napoli and Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli for the potential signing of Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen, 25. This transfer could play a crucial role in balancing Napoli’s spending following the acquisition of Lukaku.
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