Chelsea have finally reached an agreement with Napoli for the transfer of Romelu Lukaku, a deal worth up to €45m.
The 31-year-old Belgian striker is set to sign a three-year deal, keeping him in Naples until 2027.
The Blues have been attempting to offload Lukaku for the last two years, and this permanent deal, facilitated by agent Ali Barat of Epic Sports, marks the end of that saga.
Fabrizio Romano confirmed the news on Friday via X.com:
🚨🔵 Romelu Lukaku to Napoli, here we go! Verbal agreement in place between clubs.
Chelsea accept €30m fixed fee plus add-ons up to €15m for €45m potential package.
Permanent transfer brokered by Ali Barat for Epic Sports.
Lukaku will sign 3 year deal at Napoli until 2027. pic.twitter.com/Hc0pm21qZl
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 23, 2024
Earlier this week, Chelsea turned down a loan offer with an obligation to buy worth £25.5m, instead securing a more lucrative package.
While it remains unclear how easily achievable the €15m in add-ons will be, this transfer looks like the best possible outcome for Chelsea given the circumstances.
Napoli have been eager to secure Lukaku’s services, particularly after the Belgian spent the last two seasons on loan in Italy with Inter and Roma.
Lukaku’s desire for a reunion with Antonio Conte played a role in the transfer. However, this isn’t the only deal being discussed between Chelsea and Napoli.
Negotiations are ongoing regarding Chelsea’s potential pursuit of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen on loan.
There are also reports of discussions for a possible transfer involving Carney Chukwuemeka, further highlighting the busy end to the transfer window for Chelsea.
