Romelu Lukaku sealed a return to Chelsea on Thursday by transferring from Inter Milan for a reported $135 million, a document switch price for the European champions.
The Belgium striker is again on the London membership the place he spent three seasons from 2011, although he was out on mortgage for 2 of these years earlier than being offered for 28 million kilos (now $39 million) to Everton.
Welcome dwelling, @RomeluLukaku9. 💙#LukWhosBack pic.twitter.com/P43CAIVqfU
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 12, 2021
Now, Lukaku is likely one of the world’s finest strikers, prompting Chelsea to purchase him again for greater than 3 times that price to make him the second costliest participant in Premier League historical past. England midfielder Jack Grealish joined Manchester City from Aston Villa final week for 100 million kilos ($139 million).
“I’m happy and blessed to be back at this wonderful club,” Lukaku mentioned. ”It’s been an extended journey for me: I got here right here as a child who had loads to be taught, now I’m coming again with a whole lot of expertise and extra 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.”
A striker was thought to be a precedence this offseason for Chelsea, which turned European champions with out having a daily heart ahead after Timo Werner underwhelmed following his transfer from Leipzig.
Lukaku: “I’m happy, blessed to be back at this wonderful club. I have supported Chelsea as a kid. The way the club is going fits my ambitions perfectly and just coming off winning Serie A. This opportunity comes at the right time and we can have a lot of success together” 🔵 #CFC pic.twitter.com/WNa2MFIqyV
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 12, 2021
Werner joined final yr as a part of Chelsea’s largest offseason spending spree — almost $300 million — since Russian proprietor Roman Abramovich took cost in 2003 and the membership has spent large once more to entice Lukaku, who scored 47 objectives in 72 appearances in Serie A for Inter in his two seasons in Italy. Inter gained the league final season for the primary time since 2010.
Lukaku joined Inter in 2019 from Manchester United, having did not settle at Old Trafford after his transfer from Everton two years earlier for 75 million kilos (then $97 million).
With its funds badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic and an early elimination from the Champions League, Inter has been seeking to cut back its wage invoice and make a big revenue within the offseason switch window after taking out a mortgage from an American funding fund.
Lukaku follows right-back Achraf Hakimi, who joined Paris Saint-Germain for 60 million euros ($71 million), out of the door at Inter.
1️⃣5️⃣ Games
0️⃣ Goals
Lukaku’s Chelsea 0 has bought to go 👀 pic.twitter.com/gpZCPyjvzY
— Goal (@objective) August 12, 2021
Lukaku didn’t rating in 15 appearances in his first spell at Chelsea, which he joined a decade in the past dreaming of being as profitable as membership nice Didier Drogba. Now he’ll get that likelihood on the second try.
“The way the club is going fits my ambitions perfectly at 28 and just coming off winning Serie A,” he mentioned. “I believe this chance comes on the proper time and hopefully we are able to have a whole lot of success collectively.
“Since I left Chelsea, it’s been a long journey with a lot of ups and downs, but these experiences made me strong and the challenge is to try to help the team win some more trophies. I can’t wait to get started and to help the club achieve more success.”
