August 30 – As the summer transfer window prepares to slam shut in Europe’s major leagues tonight, Romelu Lukaku has ended his underwhelming second spell at Chelsea by completing a move to Napoli and linking up again with former coach Antonio Conte.
With hours to go before the end of the window, all manner of deals were being rumoured including where the likes of England internationals Raheem Sterling, Jadon Sancho and Ivan Toney might end up while Southampton are reported to have agreed a fee with Arsenal to sign England goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale in a deal worth up to £25 million.
But Lukaku’s move to Naples for a reported €30 million on a three-year contract was the only definite heavyweight deal confirmed in the hours leading up to tonight’s deadline.
Belgium’s all-time record scorer had been training away from the main Chelsea squad in recent weeks as the club sought buyer for a player who cost $135 million in 2021 – making him the seventh most expensive player at the time — but who had been a flop in his second spell at the London club.
The 31-year-old enjoyed his two most productive seasons under Conte when both were at Inter Milan and has also played for Roma, Serie A representing very much his spiritual home.
Napoli are trying to bounce back from a dreadful league title defence last term in which they went through three managers and finished 10th.
Lukaku has been brought in as part of a rebuilding process and as a replacement for want-away star forward Victor Osimhen who is reportedly considering a move to Saudi Arabia – if no European club comes in for him at the 11th hour.
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