Chelsea have officially announced the return of Romelu Lukaku to Stamford Bridge, signing him in a €115 million deal from Inter Milan. The Belgian striker is now the most expensive sale in the history of Serie A, and the most expensive signing for Chelsea as well.
Lukaku has signed a five-year deal with Chelsea, and he will earn €12 million per season. This also makes him the highest-paid player in the lineup ahead of N’Golo Kante. The transfer has been announced exactly ten years to the day of when Lukaku last passed his Chelsea medical.
He was originally signed from Anderlecht for €18 million, but in the three years at Stamford Bridge, he failed to make an impact and did not score a single goal for Chelsea. Despite that, he always said that he loved the club as a child and wanted to play for them eventually. Now, the player has the chance to fulfill his dreams as one of the world’s best strikers.
‘I’m happy and blessed to be back at this wonderful club,’ said Lukaku. ‘It’s been a long journey for me: I came here as a kid who had a lot to learn, now I’m coming back with a lot of experience and more mature.
‘The relationship I have with this club means so much to me, as you know. I have supported Chelsea as a kid and now to be back and try to help them win more titles is an amazing feeling.
‘The way the club is going fits my ambitions perfectly at 28 and just coming off winning Serie A. I think this opportunity comes at the right time and hopefully we can have a lot of success together.
Lukaku is expected to take over the number 9 shirt at Chelsea if Tammy Abraham departs for Roma or Arsenal this summer.
