For Chelsea, one of their biggest headaches is finally gone. Romelu Lukaku, who Chelsea signed for £97.5m three years ago, has completed his move to Napoli. The Stamford Bridge club earned around £30m from the deal.
In the last two seasons, Lukaku was sent out on loan by The Blues. First, he returned to Inter Milan before joining AS Roma for a season. Currently, after signing a contract with Napoli until 2027, Lukaku will receive a salary of 6.5 million Euros/season.
Belgium's all-time leading scorer will reunite with former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte at Napoli. The pair worked well together at Inter Milan. Most importantly, Chelsea will finally be able to get rid of the 31-year-old's £325,000-a-week wages.
With the 2024 summer transfer window drawing to a close, Chelsea will be keen to pursue Victor Osimhen, having already reduced their wage bill. However, the Blues are still in trouble over the future of Raheem Sterling, who is no longer in the plans of new coach Enzo Maresca.
Conte was delighted to welcome Lukaku to Napoli on Thursday (local time). Speaking at a press conference after the Belgian's signing was announced, Conte made his feelings clear.
"What can I say about Romelu Lukaku? First of all, he is a unique striker. Usually tall strikers are a bit slow, only good at pressing and making walls but not really skillful. However, Lukaku is an exception. He is very similar to an American football player. With a height of up to 1m90, Lukaku is not only strong but also extremely fast.
Basically, Lukaku is very suitable for Napoli. We need a player who can hold the ball, exploit space and be sharp in finishing. He meets all the requirements so I highly appreciate him" - Conte expressed his feelings.
Lukaku's football career has been likened to that of a "nomad". The Belgian striker has gone through two particularly forgettable periods with the London team. However, at the age of 31, Lukaku will restart his career with Napoli when his time at Stamford Bridge is far behind him.
