August 12, (THEWILL) – A day after celebrating their first trophy of the season and second straight continental title, English Premier League side Chelsea have confirmed the transfer of Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku to Stamford Bridge for a club-record fee of £97.5 million.
The move completes a sensational return to the London club for the 28-year-old after a remarkable season in Serie A, where, as part of Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan squad, they ended the Italian dominance of the Black and Whites of Juventus by winning the Scudetto.
It was seven years ago when Lukaku left the Blues of Stamford Bridge to Everton after failing to keep a steady shirt in his first 2011 – 2014 stint at the club. It was in Everton that he began to shine. He continued to score great goals at Manchester United after moving to Old Trafford, but accepted to move to Italy citing a sense of not being appreciated by a section of the United fanbase.
He has now come back to a five-year contract worth around £212,000 a week, though he will not be involved this weekend when Chelsea begins the Premier League season against Crystal Palace, which should not pose too much of a problem for Thomas Tuchel’s charges fresh off their Super Cup win.
THEWILL followed the development of Chelsea’s interest in the Belgian, and it initially seemed most unlikely to be successful. Inter appeared adamant to keep their best striker and Lukaku did not feel compelled to return to the EPL. When the player changed his mind and Chelsea offered so much, Inter accepted given their own financial position.
He will fit into the structure Tuchel has crafted at Stamford Bridge as the finisher, a segment of the Chelsea game that had not matched the progress made in the midfield and defense. Having Lukaku upfront scoring goals will make Tuchel’s side even more difficult to beat than ever before.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
