Romelu Lukaku Returns to Italy with Napoli Signing

Romelu Lukaku‘s second spell at Chelsea Football Club has officially come to an end, as the club confirmed his signing with Napoli on Thursday.

Lukaku, who previously spent three years at Stamford Bridge earlier in his career, returned to Chelsea in 2021. However, he spent the last two seasons on loan, first with Inter Milan and then with AS Roma.

Now, the Belgian striker is set to reunite with Napoli manager Antonio Conte, with whom he enjoyed great success during his time at Inter Milan. Lukaku scored 47 goals in 72 matches under Conte, helping the team win the Serie A title in the 2020-21 season.

Despite his impressive performances at Inter, Lukaku struggled to find the same form at Chelsea, netting only eight goals in his first season back in England. Last season with Roma, he scored 13 league goals and added another seven as the team advanced to the Europa League semifinals.

Having emerged as a talented player at Anderlecht before his first move to Chelsea in 2011, Lukaku has also played for Everton and Manchester United. He currently holds the record as Belgium‘s all-time leading scorer, with 85 goals in 119 appearances.

In the face of new arrivals, Chelsea has been keen on offloading players before the transfer window closes. Senior players, including Lukaku, have been deemed surplus to requirements by manager Enzo Maresca.