Transfers

Lukaku completes return to Chelsea

12 Aug 2021

Belgium striker signs five-year deal with club he left seven seasons ago

Chelsea have completed the signing of forward Romelu Lukaku, who returns to the club from Inter Milan on a five-year contract.

The 28-year-old joins for an undisclosed fee seven years after leaving Stamford Bridge for Everton.

The Belgium international played a key role in Inter winning Serie A last season, scoring 24 goals and registering 11 assists.

"I'm happy and blessed to be back at this wonderful club," Lukaku told the club's official website. "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.

"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."

"The way the club is going fits my ambitions perfectly at 28 and just coming off winning Serie A. I think this opportunity comes at the right time and hopefully we can have a lot of success together."

In his first spell at Chelsea, Lukaku made 10 appearances without scoring, but had success on loan at West Bromwich Albion, where he produced 17 goals in 35 appearances.

This was followed by a loan spell at Everton, which became a permanent move in July 2014.

In his three seasons at Goodison Park, Lukaku scored 68 goals from 141 Premier League matches.

In July 2017 he moved to Manchester United, where he hit a further 28 goals in 66 appearances, becoming the youngest player from outside England to reach 100 Premier League goals, and the fifth-youngest overall.

After joining Inter in August 2019 Lukaku returned 47 goals in 72 matches in all competitions in two seasons, helping the Nerazzurri win their first league title in 11 years.

CHE