Chelsea have completed the signing of Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan in a £97.5m club record deal.
Lukaku underwent a medical in Milan this week after Chelsea agreed a record-breaking deal with the Italian champions, with the forward having confirmed his return to the Premier League after signing a long-term contract.
The 28-year-old returns to Chelsea seven years after leaving the club in a £28m move to Everton, having made just 15 goalless appearances for the Blues after signing from Anderlecht as a teenager.
The Belgium international enjoyed loan spells with West Brom and Everton before signing for the latter on a permanent basis.
Lukaku has been with Inter Milan for two seasons after arriving at the San Siro in a £73m deal from Manchester United, with the star having enjoyed the best football of his career since moving to Italy.
Lukaku eclipsed Ronaldo Nazario as the fastest player in the Nerazzurri’s history to reach 50 goals in all competitions and was named as Serie A’s Most Valuable Player following the club’s drought-breaking title success last season.
Chelsea will look to offset some of the cost of Lukaku’s transfer with the sale of Tammy Abraham, having agreed a £34m deal to sell the England international to Roma.
Speaking after his signing, the striker said he was delighted to be back at the club.
“I’m happy and blessed to be back at this wonderful club,” Lukaku told the club 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.
“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.”
He could make his second debut for the club against Crystal Palace.
