Romelu Lukaku Returns to Italy with Napoli Move
Romelu Lukaku’s tumultuous spell at Chelsea has come to an end, with the Belgian striker joining Napoli on a three-year contract. The Serie A club announced the deal on Thursday, ending Lukaku’s extended period of uncertainty at Stamford Bridge.
Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis confirmed the move on social media, welcoming Lukaku with a photo of him signing his contract. The transfer is reportedly worth 30 million euros ($33.2 million).
Lukaku’s move to Napoli marks his third club in Italy in as many years, following loan spells at Inter Milan and Roma. The 31-year-old enjoyed a successful stint at Inter, firing them to the Serie A title in 2021 under current Napoli coach Antonio Conte.
However, Lukaku’s return to Chelsea in the summer of 2021 proved to be a disaster. The massive transfer fee of over 100 million euros weighed heavily on his shoulders, and he struggled to replicate his form from Inter.
Lukaku’s poor performances led to him being loaned back to Inter for the 2022/23 season. However, injuries and a lack of playing time hampered his impact. A potential permanent move to Inter fell through last summer due to Lukaku’s alleged interest in rivals AC Milan and Juventus.
With Chelsea unwilling to lower their valuation, Lukaku was left in limbo. Roma eventually agreed to a loan deal, but they were not interested in signing him permanently. This paved the way for Napoli to reunite Lukaku with Conte, who is eager to revive the striker’s career.
Despite his recent struggles, Lukaku remains Belgium’s all-time top scorer with 85 goals in 119 appearances. Napoli will be hoping that he can rediscover his goalscoring touch and help them challenge for the Serie A title.
