Romelu Lukaku returned to Chelsea on Thursday for a reported club record fee of £97 million ($135 million) from Inter Milan, seven years after his first spell at Stamford Bridge came to an end.
“Romelu Lukaku is back in Chelsea blue,” the English club said in statement.
“The Belgian has signed a five-year contract and will add attacking firepower to Thomas Tuchel’s squad of European champions.”
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.
‘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.’
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.
‘We are of course looking to build on last season’s success, and Lukaku will play a big role in achieving our targets. I’m sure all Chelsea fans will join me in saying welcome home, Romelu!’
Lukaku is back at Stamford Bridge a decade after he originally joined the club. He has netted 80 goals for club and country in the past two seasons alone, adding a ruthless streak to the tenacity and touch that have defined his game for so long.
A formidable forward who is equally adept at holding the ball up with his back to goal as well as running into channels with purpose and intent, Lukaku has eight years of Premier League experience under his belt. During that time, he scored 113 goals in the division, taking him up to 20th place on the list of all-time Premier League goalscorers. – Agency report.
