One of the most prolific strikers in European football, Lukaku has returned to the club he supported as a young boy and where he has unfinished business, having been on Chelsea’s books between 2011 and 2014. The Belgian has signed a five-year contract and will add attacking firepower to Thomas Tuchel’s squad of European champions.

Romelu Lukaku is now a new Chelsea player, returning to the Premier League after two years at Inter. After a career with ups and downs, the striker has established himself as one of the best in the world. He has already been at Chelsea twice, but he was too young and did not fit in. Now he returns with much more experience and after two excellent seasons in Italy.

Chelsea will pay 115 million euros to Inter and he will be one of the most expensive players in the Premier League and the most expensive Chelsea player. In addition, the striker will be paid around 12 million a year. A salary commensurate with the role he will tackle in Tuchel’s team, which after winning the Champions League and the European Super Cup wants more and will fight for everything this year.

Lukaku has scored 66 goals and provided 18 assists in two seasons at Inter and played 97 games. Top striker figures and that has allowed him to return to Chelsea at the age of 28.

The player is already in London and has underwent his Chelsea medical. He has even posed with his new shirt and said his first words as a Blue player.

‘I’m happy and blessed to be back at this wonderful club,’ said Lukaku. ‘It’s been a long journey for me: I came here as a kid who had a lot to learn, now I’m coming back with a lot of experience and more mature.”

Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia added: ‘Romelu Lukaku is quite simply one of the world’s best strikers and goalscorers. We are absolutely delighted to be bringing him back to the club he loves, and are excited to be adding his talent to our Champions League-winning squad.”

‘Ups and downs’

Seven goals in his first seven Premier League games briefly gave United hope of challenging Manchester City for the title in 2017/18, but the wheels quickly came off Jose Mourinho’s time at Old Trafford.

Lukaku scored twice in United’s famous comeback to beat Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League in the early months of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign in charge, but he also fell out of favour under the Norwegian with questions over his fitness.

“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,” added Lukaku. “I can’t wait to get started and to help the club achieve more success.”

A move to Inter offered a fresh start under Antonio Conte, who had been a long-time admirer of Belgium’s all-time leading scorer. Together they ended Juventus’ grip on Italian football, romping to Serie A last season by 12 points.

However, the financial problems of Inter’s owners the Suning Group, exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, have seen their rise quickly unravel. Conte left the club in May, claiming the cost cutting required would have prevented him building the team he wanted to challenge domestically and in Europe.

After lifting the Champions League last season, Chelsea are hoping Lukaku is the final piece required to make Thomas Tuchel’s side Premier League title challengers.

TodayNG